Coffee County Deputy Kevin Smith stopped a vehicle on the McMinnville Hwy on Thursday for a traffic violation. Smith says in the arrest warrant that he was given consent to search the vehicle. The deputy says he observed Paul Martin Phillips age 54 Smart Station Rd, Morrison attempting to hide a white bottle. After the subject gave the bottle to the deputy he opened it and it allegedly contained a small amount of meth and some other pills. Upon search of the vehicle the deputy allegedly found approximately 59.8 grams of crystal meth along with 29 grams of marijuana,...

The Tullahoma Police Department is continuing to investigate a fire that destroyed a house on Johnson Lane on Jan. 3. The Tullahoma Fire Department arrived around 5:50 a.m. to the fire and found the house was fully engulfed with flames. Fire Chief Richard Shasteen stated at the time that the firefighters battled the blaze and kept if from spreading to nearby houses. The chief stated the house was under construction and no one was living in it at the time. The chief said at the time that fire appeared to have started in the floor of a bedroom and...

A Cannon County man is charged with TennCare fraud in connection with the sale of prescription drugs which were paid for by the state’s healthcare insurance program. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office, has announced the arrest of Tony McPeake, 60, of Woodbury. He is accused of using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone and later selling a portion during an undercover police investigation. McPeake is charged with TennCare fraud and sale and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance. District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting. TennCare...

There were three motor vehicle accidents on Interstate 24 Thursday morning in Coffee County. The original crash was at 2:57 am with minor injuries at the 101 mile-marker. A secondary crash with injuries occurred at 4:09 am, then a fatal crash at the 104 mm westbound at 5:01am with a car and tractor trailer. 23-year-old Justin Jones of Manchester was killed in the accident on I-24 near the 104 mile-marker. The THP reported Jones’ was traveling westbound when he came upon traffic at a complete stop and struck a tractor-trailer from behind, becoming lodged underneath the semi. The driver...

Personnel with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and sheriff’s office personnel from Cherokee County, Alabama were attempting to apprehend a fugitive from justice when a short pursuit began on Wednesday afternoon. After a short standoff ended on U.S. Hwy 411 in Leesburg, AL, Jeremiah James Vandagriff of Manchester was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound. Vandagriff age 33 of West Toliver Lake Road, Manchester was wanted in connection for burglaries. Hours before the shooting, police arrested another fugitive, Ricky C. Thomison, without incident after the detectives from Coffee County, Tennessee alerted them that two suspects wanted...

The Tullahoma Fire Department’s first responders will likely soon begin partnering with the Coffee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in cases of stroke. On Jan. 19, the Coffee County Ambulance Authority voted to revise the agreement with the Tullahoma Fire Department to add an additional category of medical emergencies for which the fire department’s first responders would be dispatched along with the ambulance. That decision has to be approved by the 911 Communications Center Board, and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EMS and the Tullahoma Fire Department has to be amended before it takes effect. (Tullahoma...

In response to Coffee County Schools’ initiative to eliminate barriers that may hinder student academic success, Traders Bank of Manchester has graciously donated a washer and dryer to Coffee County Middle School. This is the third bank in Manchester to step up to support this cause. “We are humbled by the support from our community partners who continue to help us address the needs of our students and families,” said Taylor Rayfield, Coffee County Schools Family Resource Coordinator. If you or your organization would like to know more about this effort or donate, please contact Taylor Rayfield at rayfieldt@k12coffee.net...