Category: News

James Richard Gault, 56, of Manchester was arrested Sunday on charges of domestic violence and resisting arrest. When officers attempted to arrest Gault he became combative with them, injuring a Manchester officer. The officer was transported to the hospital.
According to warrants obtained by Deputy Cody Lendley, officers responded to a disturbance at the Motel 6 in Manchester.
According to the warrant, a female in the room told the officers that she and Gault had a verbal altercation that had turned physical. She alleged that Gault broke the phone in the room during the altercation.
Gault was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a $7,500 bond.

The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to last week’s no contest plea of John Constantine to seven counts of sales tax evasion. Constantine, 47, is the managing member of a Manchester business.
Coffee County Circuit Court Judge Walter Kurtz accepted Constantine’s plea and sentenced him to four years of supervised probation. Constantine was also ordered to pay restitution of $42,743.10.
In January 2015, a Coffee County Grand Jury indicted Constantine on six Class E felony counts of tax evasion, one count of theft over $10,000 and one count of filing a false franchise and excise tax return. The indictments charged that between December 2012 and June 2013, Constantine collected sales tax from customers at his business and failed to remit all collected sales tax as required by law.
“This investigation will serve as a reminder that retailers are not entitled to use or keep sales tax monies,” Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. “When sales tax revenues are collected by a retailer, they are at all times property of the state or local government, and they must be remitted to the state.”
The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Craig Northcott and his staff. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee’s revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).
The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue.

Two people were injured after a motorcycle accident Saturday night on River Bluff, Dr. just outside Manchester.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 52 year-old Timothy A. Kanehl of Manchester, TN was the operator of the 2001 Harley Davidson when the wreck occurred. 45 year-old Suzanne Lamon from Lavergne, TN was a passenger.
Both Kanehl and Lamon were airlifted from the scene and taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville for treatment of unknown injuries.
No other information was released by the THP.

A man was airlifted Thursday morning when he was run over in his driveway by hit-and-run driver.
36 year old Christopher Higgins was taken by helicopter to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga for injuries he suffered when the car ran over his legs and chest area.
According to Sheriff’s Department, the incident happened around 9 a.m. on Short Road located in the Smartt Station community. Higgins told the Sheriff’s Dept. that a black Nissan pulled into his driveway and was blowing his horn. He went outside and once he reached the car, the man inside threw open the door and started cursing at him. Higgins added the driver threw the vehicle in reverse. He was knocked down by the door of the car and was run over. The driver fled the scene, leaving Higgins lying in his driveway. He was airlifted to Erlanger in Chattanooga for treatment to his legs and chest area.
The driver is described as having long, dark hair and several tattoos. He was driving a black Nissan Maxima or Altima. Anyone having information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department.

A 12-year-old boy was injured after what appears to be an accidental shooting.
Tullahoma officials say the incident involved a hunting rifle and took place Friday afternoon around 5:30 p.m. Officials said the victim was taken to Harton Regional Medical center by his parents before being taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
According to Winston Brooks with City of Tullahoma, the 12-year-old was responsive after the accidental shooting on Avondale Lane.
His condition is unknown at this time.

Last Thursday, (July 23rd, 2015) a male subject allegedly entered three vehicles at 138 Dakota Place in Coffee County, the vehicles had been ransacked and no property was missing. This was observed via video camera and by statements from family where the subject apparently admitted to breaking into vehicles.
Then at 18 Dawson Court the same person allegedly broke into another vehicle and took $100.00 from that vehicle.
Later the man went to 170 Harper Lane and entered one vehicle and supposedly stole a Ruger .380 pistol which was later recovered from the subject’s residence. The subject apparently broke into another vehicle at this address and stole $50.00 from it.
At 68 Harper Lane the male subject entered another vehicle and ransacked it.
The subject then allegedly went to 79 Harper Lane and ransacked another vehicle.
Later on, the man supposedly went to 83 Harper Lane and entered a vehicle. $30.00 and a Hollister cologne bottle became missing.
When Coffee County Deputy Brandon Reed made contact with Tyler Clark Moss he was in possession of a pistol in the bedroom of his residence. Also, he was allegedly in possession of the pistol stolen from 170 Harper Lane.
Tyler Clark Moss age 22 of Manchester was taken into custody by Reed and booked at the Coffee County Jail under a total bond of $65,000 and faces a court date of October 5. Moss was charged with, Unlawful possession of a weapon, 6 counts of theft of property and 9 counts of burglary.

On Thursday afternoon a man allegedly ran a red light at Highway 41 and Viola Road in Hillsboro at a high rate of speed. A Coffee County deputy tried to stop subject, but he continued on Highway 41 going South at speeds of over 100mph. As the pursuit continued, the man was apparently passing vehicles with oncoming traffic.
James Eric Hanger was stopped near Pelham, Tennessee with the assistance of a Grundy County deputy. Hanger allegedly became combative and had to tased.
The Coffee County deputy placed Hanger age 46 of Tullahoma into custody and transported him to the Coffee County Jail where warrants were obtained for evading arrest, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, possession of schedule II and simple possession. A citation was issued for running the red light. His bond was set at $9,500 and he has a court date of August 3.

In Tullahoma on Saturday, officers responded to 205 Windbriar Drive concerning a domestic situation. According to an arrest warrant, the victim told police that she and a male subject had argued and that it became physical when a male subject allegedly began beating her and holding her against her will. The warrant states that the man locked her in a closet at 129 West Lincoln Street for over 4 hours and that he would hold his hand over face to keep her quite. The warrant goes onto say the woman stated that the subject threw her up against the wall and assaulted her several times over the four hour period. Police say that the victim had several cuts abrasions and contusions on her face, arm and body. She also had cuts inside her mouth.
Nathaniel Gregory Foster age 27 of Tullahoma was arrested and charged with false imprisonment, domestic violence and kidnapping. His bond was set at $55,000 and he’ll be in court on Monday (July 27).

The body of Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith who was the last to die from the tragic shooting in Chattanooga, was flown to Nashville Friday evening, where a procession followed.
That procession was met by people waving American flags from the time Smith landed to when he got home.
In Manchester, hundreds lined the interstate overpasses waving American flags, shouting USA and some people became overwhelmed by the moment and began to cry.
The funeral for Smith was held Saturday in his hometown in Georgia. Smith leaves behind a wife and three young daughters, but he didn’t leave them without a fight. He underwent several surgeries before he died.