Category: News

Beware Of Online Thieves

Did you know that Online Identity Theft Crimes are on the rise? Many consumers fall victim to online identity crimes due to the increase of shopping during the holiday season. It is important to be aware of certain emails that request personal information as a means of gaining access to the site. Be mindful when purchasing items on line that your personal information and payment will be requested at the end of the purchase, not at the beginning. Online Identity Theft Crime has become increasingly easy because most consumers are not as savvy on technology devices as the criminal.

Here are some tips that can help you protect your identity this holiday season:

Use Strong Passwords:

Use different user ID / password combinations for different accounts and avoid writing them down. Make the passwords more complicated by combining letters, numbers, special characters (minimum 10 characters in total) and change them on a regular basis.

Secure your computer:

Activate your firewall

Firewalls are the first line of cyber defense; they block connections to unknown or bogus sites and will keep out some types of viruses and hackers.

Use anti-virus/malware software

Prevent viruses from infecting your computer by installing and regularly updating anti-virus software.

Block spyware attacks

Prevent spyware from infiltrating your computer by installing and updating anti-spyware software.

Install the latest operating system updates:

Keep your applications and operating system (e.g. Windows, Mac, Linux) current with the latest system updates. Turn on automatic updates to prevent potential attacks on older software.

Protect your e-identity

Be cautious when giving out personal information such as your name, address, phone number or financial information on the Internet. Make sure that websites are secure (e.g. when making online purchases) or that you’ve enabled privacy settings (e.g. when accessing/using social networking sites).

Call the right person for help

Don’t panic! If you are a victim, or if you suspect a computer crime, identity theft or a commercial scam, report this to your local police. If you need help with maintenance or software installation on your computer, consult with your service provider or a certified computer technician.

For more information contact the Tennessee Highway Patrol Identity Crimes Division at

615-251-5185. or visit our website at www.tn.gov/safety.

Tullahoma Woman Facing Numerous Charges

Allyson Nichole Spelce intake photo provided by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department.

A Tullahoma woman has been arrested on several charges following an incident at Wal-Mart on North Jackson Street in Tullahoma.
Allyson Nichole Spelce, 32, of Autumn Lane Tullahoma was charged with shoplifting, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, driving on revoke/suspended license, evading arrest, criminal trespass and two counts of assault.
According to a warrant obtained by Tullahoma Police Officer Derrick Derlien, on Nov. 23 Spelce is accused of shoplifting from the store and having two 14-year-olds shoplift with her. The items totaled $210 in value.
She fled the store when store employees attempted to stop them and allegedly assaulted the employees. The officer caught Spelce’s vehicle on Kings Lane. When the officer checked her license record he found that they were revoked/suspended.
The warrant states that the woman had already been banned from all Wal-Mart stores.
Spelce was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a $58,500 bond and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Dec. 17.

Thanksgiving Gas Prices Lowest Since 2008

When 41.9 million Americans fill-up the car for a Thanksgiving road trip, they will pay the cheapest pump prices for the holiday since 2008. The average price of gasoline nationwide is $2.08, 72 cents lower than last year’s average of $2.80 on Thanksgiving Day.
Airline tickets are 10% lower than last year for 40 top routes, AAA said. And hotel rates are mostly flat.
“Motorists are saving around $11 for a full tank of gas compared to this time last year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
The heaviest travel days will be today Wednesday, Nov. 25; Sunday, Nov. 29 and Monday, Nov. 30. The number of daily passengers during the holiday period will range from 1.4 million to 2.7 million.
The average gas price in Tennessee is a $1.91 and the low price in Manchester is a $1.75 and in Tullahoma it’s $1.77.

Murfreesboro Police Officer Charged in Child Porn Case

Kevin Wayne Dunn

A Murfreesboro Police Officer is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The case was confirmed by the TBI at 6:00, Monday evening.
Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have arrested and charged a Sergeant of the Murfreesboro Police Department in an ongoing child pornography investigation.
During the course of a recent investigation, TBI Agents developed information which led to Kevin Wayne Dunn as an individual who had distributed images consistent with child pornography.
then booked him into the Rutherford County Jail on a $750,000 bond.
Sgt. Dunn has been employed since November, 1998.(WGNS Radio)

Motlow Holiday Music Concerts

The Motlow State Community College music department is excited to present a pair of holiday concerts during the first week of December on the Moore County campus.
Both performances will be held in Eoff Hall inside Powers Auditorium. The first is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m., and the second on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. Both concerts feature Motlow students and community members. A reception will be held one hour in advance of each performance.
“There will be something for everyone in these concerts, and since it is the beginning of the holiday season our hope is to put everyone in the holiday spirit,” said Dr. David Bethea, assistant professor of music at Motlow.
The concerts will offer a wide array of musical styles and holiday standards performed by the Motlow Vocal Ensemble and the Motlow Community Band, including solos by several members of the ensemble throughout the musical production.
Santa Claus, the Grinch, Rudolph and characters from the movie “Frozen” will make appearances throughout the show, and will be available for photo opportunities during the reception and intermission.
Many Motlow students participate in the vocal ensemble and the community band “It’s going to be a great show,” exclaims Dr. Bethea, “and we hope people will call soon to make reservations.”
Reservations may be made by calling 931-393-1700 or emailing Bobbie Underwood at bunderwood@mscc.edu. Admission is free and donations are appreciated and will benefit the Motlow College Music Department.

Important Information about Sheriff Department Food and Toy Boxes

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department will begin accepting names for food and toy boxes on November, 30, 2015.
There is a change this year in the way names will be accepted. This year you’ll be required to come to the sheriff’s department in person. There are three requirements to be put on the list for boxes and or toys; Must have proof of identification, birth certificate of each child and proof of residency, such as utility bill or something similar.
If you have any questions call Shannon at 931-570-4409 or Lesley at 931-570-4410.

Murder Suspects Arrested in Manchester

Brandon Shawn Smith

According to Manchester Assistant Police Chief Adam Floied, two people wanted in connection with a Covington, Georgia homicide/robbery were arrested Saturday in Manchester. Floied says, an alert clerk at a motel in Manchester had seen an alert issued out of Chattanooga about the murder and called 911. “The clerk saw them leaving and when he saw the license tag on the car he knew it was the one that Chattanooga had put out”.
Floied saw the 2002 Honda Accord and followed it to the Beech Grove area where he stopped the vehicle. He said that the pair were arrested without any problem. The incident in Covington, Georgia was in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart and was captured on surveillance video. The video shows a man walk up to Marsha Johnson, 65, in an attempt to grab her purse. During the struggle, she fell to the ground. The video, according Georgia authorities, shows the suspect get into Johnson’s car and drive over her several times, killing her. A witness was able to provide police with a description of the suspect for a sketch artist working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Floied identified the pair as Brandon Shawn Smith, 27 and Stephanie Marie Rodriguez, 37. They were held in the Coffee County Jail over the weekend and face extradition back to Georgia to face the robbery/murder charges.

Stephanie Marie Rodriguez

Georgia officials told authorities here that Smith and Rodriguez, could be responsible for at least ten violent purse snatchings in North and South Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Georgia. According to Floied the car that the two were riding in was possibly stolen.

Fire at the Park Motel in Manchester

Smoke flows from Park Motel in Manchester… Photo by Tiffany Clutter

Monday afternoon at approximately 12:35pm, Manchester Fire and Rescue had a report of structure fire at the Park Hotel on Hwy 41. Once initial crews arrived on scene, they began attacking the fire. A call was made for off duty firefighters to report to scene, as the southwest end of the hotel was pretty well involved. An engine company was requested from Tullahoma Fire for back fill and additional manpower also. Once additional manpower arrived on scene, crews were able to more aggressively attack the fire containing it to the area where it began. Crews then performed overhaul and salvage operations to ensure the fire was completely out. Fire crews were completed with their tasks at the fire scene at approximately 4:20pm Monday afternoon.

Park Motel photo by Keith Kinser

Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers thanked those who assisted; Duck River Electric, Manchester Water Department, Manchester Police Department, Coffee County EMS and Coffee County EMA, Manchester Codes Department, the American Red Cross, Aarons Department Store, and of course the hard work and dedication of on and off duty Manchester firefighters and Tullahoma Fire department.
The American Red Cross was on the scene and provided assistance to the families that were displaced from the motel fire. The power to the building and water has been turned off until the incident can be investigated and repairs made.

MFD fighting the Monday fire at Park Motel… Photo by Barry West

Alert: Make Sure “Grinch” Doesn’t Steal Your Kids’ Identity

Experts recommend taking extra precautions with your child’s personal information and being alert for signs of identity theft. Credit: MarcusScottReed/morguefile.com

Thieves are now looking beyond your wallet and personal information to your children’s. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports a 300 percent increase in calls about child identity theft in 2014. With the holidays around the corner and scammers working overtime, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Consumer Affairs Division is reminding folks about the potential risk to their children. The department’s spokesman Kevin Walters explains. “We want parents to understand that their kids are at risk just as well as the parents’ identity are at risk,” says Walters. “Scammers don’t discriminate based on age and we want parents to adopt some good habits in their everyday lives to help safeguard their children.” Walters says to avoid sharing your child’s Social Security number unless it is a trusted party, keep things like their birth certificate and school paperwork in a secure location, and don’t be afraid to ask people requesting personal information how it will be used. Warning signs of identity theft of a youngster can include your child receiving credit card applications or calls from credit agencies. Walters says it’s important to take quick action to avoid an impact on your child for years to come. “It can be a scary situation for everyone involved whenever identity theft occurs,” says Walters. “Your best course of action and parents’ best course of action is to notify law enforcement, notify credit agencies and notify your bank immediately.” Tennessee law also permits parents and legal guardians to enact a security freeze on children under 16 years of age. When the freeze is put into place, credit agencies cannot release a person’s credit report unless the freeze is specifically removed.

Hillsboro Man Arrested On Multiple Charges After Meth Lab Bust

Jeremy Namer Dalton intake photo provided by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department.

Jeremy Namer Dalton of Hillsboro was arrested by Coffee County authorities on Thursday Nov. 19 after he was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine lab and products used to produce the drug.
Dalton, 32, of 4435 Old Airport Road, Hillsboro was charged with reckless endangerment, tampering with or fabricating evidence, destruction of evidence and intent to manufacture methamphetamines.
According to a report by Coffee County Sheriff’s Investigator James Sherrill, a search warrant was served at Dalton’s residence after they had received information of possible methamphetamine production.
When officers arrived at the residence, Sherrill went to a shed behind the house and saw Dalton inside moving around. He then saw a fire inside the building. The officer was unable to gain entry to the building as it was locked. After the fire started, Dalton came running out of the building and Sherrill arrested him. Deputy Brandon Reed had called for the Hillsboro Fire Department to extinguish the fire and to help secure the building. A garden hose was used to put the fire out before they arrived.
According to Sherrill’s report, cleanup equipment was needed due to the extreme fumes from where Dalton attempted to burn the lab. Also there were several propane tanks inside the building which could have exploded.
Once the cleanup equipment arrived, officers entered the shed and found a number of ingredients used to produce meth as well as digital scales and a hand held torch. They also found $120 in cash in the building which was determined to be counterfeit. They also found a 12 gauge shotgun, which was a violation since Dalton is a convicted felon. The gun was found under the mattress in the bedroom inside the residence.
Officers seized a flat screen television, $816 in cash, tools, a 1994 Chevrolet Tahoe and various other items used in the surveillance of his operation.
According to Sherrill, the investigation is continuing and other charges are pending.
Dalton was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $175,000 and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Dec. 17.

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