Sheriff's Reports

POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II: Deputy Jacob Damron was conducting travel surveillance while parked at the Shell gas station on Clevenger Cutoff, which is a known drug area. Deputy Damron stated he observed a Gold Cadillac hat ws driving n\with the normal flow of traffic until the driver, Joshua Cross, noticed the marked patrol car. Damron stated the driver immediately turned into the gas station and parked on the side of the store. It was followed by a black passenger vehicle that pulled up to the gas pumps. The passenger of the Cadillac, Justin Barnes, got out of the vehicle and walked to the pumps where the black car, operated by Cheyenne Kennedy, was parked. The two appeared to have a short conversation before Barnes got into the driver’s seat and moved the vehicle beside the Cadillac, with Kennedy in the passenger seat. Damron stated that during this time, a dark colored passenger vehicle pulled up beside his patrol car and stated that “those people over in the Cadillac [appeared] to be high and kept saying they weren’t leaving until that cop left.” Damron stated he then pulled over to the vehicles to confront the subjects about the citizen complaint and suspicious driving behavior. The tag number on the Cadillac was given to Central Dispatch, and it came back as having been registered to a Chevy pickup truck. Deputies then made contact with Cross, who immediately stated that he did not have a license and was waiting on a licensed driver to come get the vehicle. Damron stated he asked if everything was okay due to his passengers being so nervous. Cross stated that he “didn’t really know” the passengers and that he was “just giving them a ride.” Cross was then asked if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle, to which he said no but could not speak for his passengers, telling the deputies, “you can check if you want.” Once consent was given and confirmed, deputies asked Barnes and Kennedy to step out of the vehicle for it to be searched. Deputies located a large gallon freezer bag with what appeared to be a crystal like residue inside, along with a syringe in the center console area. Deputies also located a Sprite soda can in the pouch on the back of the driver seat. Damron stated in his report that the can was heavier than a normal can and has several markings and a discoloring to the can. He said that deputies twisted the top of the metal can and discovered that it had been altered and contained approximately one ounce of a crystal-like substance, suspected to be methamphetamine. Once the Miranda rights had been read to all parties, Cross and Barnes both stated that they use methamphetamine, but the suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle was not theirs. Cross, Barnes, and Kennedy were placed under arrest. Deputies seized the gold Cadillac, the black utility trailer attached to the bumper, and $626.00, suspected to be used in illegal narcotics sales and distribution.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Deputy Hoover responded to Newport Medical Center in reference to a call from Central Dispatch that there was a female in the Emergency Room who had been hit by a car and needed an officer to investigate. Upon arrival, Deputy Hoover spoke with Ursula Espinosa, who stated that her friend Britney Prather had asked her to help retrieve her black 2010 Honda Civic from her ex-boyfriend. Espinosa stated that after they located the vehicle owned by Prather, the suspect, Steven Walton, drove off in the vehicle at a high rate of speed. Espinosa stated that at that time, Prather went back to her residence on Lakewood Way. She then stated that “through a series of rapidly unfolding events,” Walton began trying to hit her with the car and run her over. She told the deputy that she was struck by the mirror of the Honda and then grabbed the door handle, at which time Walon revered the motion of the vehicle and dragged her under the door of the vehicle. Espinosa provided a written statement as to her account of the event, and told the deputy that Prather was there at the time of the event and had begged her not to notify Law Enforcement of the incident. Deputy Hoover stated in his report that he witnessed text messages showing Prather asking Espinosa not to press charges. He then went to Prather’s residence to try and make contact with her. Prather states that none of those things happened and that she was not willing to give a statement as to what happened. Deputy Hoover asked if Walton was inside the residence, to which she stated, “yes, but he is sleeping.” Hoover stated he told her to wake him up so he could speak with him. Walton came outside a few moments later and began giving his account of the incident. He stated that Espinosa tried to block him in, and he was just trying to drive the car back out of the driveway. He then stated that he knew for a fact that he did not hit her with his car and was at least six-inches away from her. Walton also provided a written statement of what happened in this incident. Hoover stated that while at the residence, he inspected the vehicle involved and noticed the license plate had been removed, there were shoe prints on the front bumper, and handprints on the front driver window. There were also clothing brush marks on the driver door as well as the rear bumper of the vehicle. Deputy Hoover stated he advised Espinosa to sign a warrant for the assault, once released from the emergency room.

STALKING: Deputies Timothy Snapp and Rebecca Colley responded to an incident of a female, Brittney Daniels, being followed by a male she did not know in a silver Honda on Cosby Highway to Bogard Road. Daniels had seen the deputies parking on Old Newport Highway and Lower Bogard Road as she was being followed. Danield stated that when she male first turned off Cosby Highway and started following her, the male pulled up beside her car and was making gestures at her. Daniels then called her husband, Matthew Daniels, because she was afraid of what the unknown male might do.Mr. Daniels had told her to meet him at the Union Baptist Church on Lower Bogard Road. Mr. Daniels did have a firearm with him, but never displayed it. When Mrs. Daniels arrived at the church, the male pulled in as well. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels spoke briefly before he told her to drive back to where she had seen the patrol cars. When Mrs. Daniels pulled away, Mr. Daniels asked the male if he could help him, and the male stated that he was trying to talk to his girlfriend. Mr. Daniels then tried to explain that Mrs. Daniels was not his girlfriend. There was a brief argument between Mr. Daniels and the male before the male sped away to catch back up to Mrs. Daniels. When Mrs. Daniels reached the patrol cars and stopped, the male in the silver Honda kept going. Deputies did not have enough information about the situation when Mrs. Daniels pulled in to try and stop the silver Honda. Both Mr. and Mrs. Daniels said they had no idea who the male was, and they were unable to get the tag number of the car. They did describe the male as being white with dark skin and tattoos on his arm, but they did not know what the tattoos were. They also stated that the Honda was an older model silver sedan with faded paint, and something that looked like a lanyard hanging from the mirror. Deputies took statements from Mr. and Mrs. Daniels to document the incident.

PROBATION VIOLATION: Deputy Richard Hoover was notified by the Cocke County Jail Staff that they had two warrants that needed to be served on a subject already in custody of the jail. Two active warrants for Violation of Probation on Joshua Moore without further incident. Moore remained in the custody of the Cocke County Jail.

RECKLESS DRIVING/EVADING ARREST: Sergeant Zachary Magouirk observed a lifted Jeep Wrangler that was known to be driven by Michael Gunter, Jr., sitting at the Cosby Run Campground on Highway 32. Gunter was wanted on multiple charges out of Cocke County . Sergeant Magouirk, along with Deputy Bryce Pickens, identified the driver as Gunter and even called his name, at which time he looked at the officers before beginning to drive away. Gunter pulled out of the parking lot heading south bound on South Highway 32 and immediately crossed into the opposite lane of travel. Sergeant Magouirk attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Gunter, but he failed to stop, ignoring blue lights and audible sirens. Gunter continued to flee at a high rate of speed and crossed the center line several times before turning onto Caney Creek Road. He then turned on to Caton Grove Road before turning up a gravel driveway and onto a four wheeling trail that the officers were unable to continue on. Deputy Pickens attempted to continue onto the four wheeling trail, but after a short distance, was unable to continue due to road conditions. Warrants have been issued for Gunter’s arrest.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT: Deputy Joshua Smith responded to Andrew Road in reference to a domestic assault. Upon arrival, Deputy Smith made contact with Alma McGaha, who stated that her husband, James McGaha, was drunk when he came home and was still drinking. After she informed him she wanted a divorce, James then threw beer on her. Alma stated that she went to the kitchen where James then threw liquor on her before pushing her down. At that time, James left, and Alma called 911. Alma stated that James left on a yellow four wheeler. Deputies Smith and Ensley stayed in the area and tried to locate James but were unsuccessful. Warrants had been taken out for James for Domestic Assault. The next day, deputies were again dispatched to Andrew Road. James called in regards to wanting his wife to move her car so that he could leave. He was showing an active warrant for Domestic Assault from the night before. James was then taken into custody and transported to the Cocke County Jail.

VIOLATION OF COMPUTER CRIME LAW: Deputy Joshua Burchfield and Sergeant Dylan Norton made contact with June Paton, who stated that she received a Facebook message from her friend Barbara Rion, advising that she had a federal grant of $90,000 to give her under the condition that Paton would send her $1000 in eBay gift cards. Paton sent the eBay gift cards to a Carole Zanahedert after Rion advised through another Facebook message. Paton stated that Rion had advised her that Zanahedert was a federal grant agent, and that it was okay to send her the gift cards. All contact between Paton and Rion had been through Facebook messaging prior to Paton calling Rion. Paton called Rion, and Rion told her that she had not spoken with her regarding any grants or money, and that her account was hacked. Paton stated that after speaking with Rion on the phone, she knew she had been scammed. Deputy Burchfield attempted to make contact with Rion several times to gather her personal information but was unable to make contact.

FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE: Sergeant Jessica Butler and Lieutenant Heath Willis were dispatched to Irish Cut Road and Swallow Road in reference to a suspicious vehicle parked partially in the road with two occupants inside. Upon arrival, Butler and Willis walked up to the vehicle and witnessed a male in the front driver’s seat and a female in the back seat sleeping. Butler and WIllis both knocked on the window to wake the occupants up. When the male woke up, he opened the driver’s side door, and Butler noticed a glass pipe, commonly used for smoking illegal narcotics, laying in his lap. Butler asked the male to place the pipe on the dashboard of the vehicle before asking both the male and female if they had any identification on them. Both just gave their name and date of birth because they advised that they did not have identification on them. The male was identified as Christopher Herman and the female was identified as Heather Leonard. Both were asked to step out of the vehicle while it was bein searched. Herman and Leonard both ran for warrants through Central Dispatch, and both had warrants out of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Herman also had an out of state warrant in Buchanan County, Virginia, with full extradition for 2 offenses of driving on a revoked license. Both Herman and Leonard were placed under arrest and transported to the Cocke County Jail, where they were awaiting pickup.

RECOVERED VEHICLE: Deputy Joshua Malone was dispatched to Tolley Hollow Road in reference to a possible location of a stolen vehicle. Dispatch advised the car was being tracked by the line holder, and it was showing to be behind a residence. Upon arrival, the vehicle could be seen from the roadway behind the residence. The vehicle was checked through NCIC, where it was confirmed to be stolen out of Asheville, North Carolina.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION: Deputy Rodney Hazelwood was notified by parents at Northwest Elementary School that a possibly intoxicated female was walking in the middle of the roadway in front of the school. The deputy made contact with the female, later identified as Julia Busche, on Woodson Road and Wells Drive. Busche had no shoes and appeared to be under the influence of some type of intoxicant. Busche also had slurred speech. She was placed into custody for public intoxication and transported to the Cocke County Jail Annex for her safety.

FAILURE TO APPEAR: Deputy Joshua Smith responded to Laurel Springs Road interference to squatters. Upon arrival, Deputy Smith made contact with Ricky Ledford, who stated he had permission to be there and even had a key. Deputy Smith stated that he informed Ledford that the person who gave him permission to be there was not the owner, and the owner wanted him trespassed. Ledford was checked for warrants and was found to have had two active warrants- one a citation only and the other arrestable. Ledford was placed under arrest and transported to the Cocke County Jail, where it was discovered that “it was a mix up”, and Ledford only had a Failure to Appear citation warrant. Deputy Smith stated he then wrote a citation and transported Ledford to his sister’s residence on Hooper Highway.

HARASSMENT: Ronald and Dianne Lane came to the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office to obtain warrants for a repetitive trespasser. The Lanes had bought property on Ridge Hollow Road in Del Rio, in which they have the deed for. The trespasser contacted the Lanes and told them that the property belonged to her. The Lanes bought the property from the trespasser’s step dad. The Lanes then sold the property, but the individual continued to harass the new owners until they sold the property back to the Lanes. They said she continuously comes onto the property at all hours of the day and night, and typically has males carrying weapons with her. The Lanes told the officers that they have no trespassing signs up, but the individual continues to come on the property. They provided officers with pictures and videos of the individual on the property, as well as the harassment texts that have been sent.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION: Deputy Jalynn Ensley responded to the Hartford BP station in reference to a male yelling at people. Deputy Ensley reported that the man became irate upon contact and began yelling at the officer. Deputy Ensley stated that he had to threaten to use his taser to get the male to calm down. At that time, the male was detained for officer and public safety. Deput Ensley stated that he could smell the odor of alcohol coming from the male. When asked what was going on, the male’s response all led back to an incident that had taken place in 1997 and that he “wanted to hurt someone,” but would not tell the officer what was happening. The male stated that his name was Dewey and provided Deputy Ensley with his license. He was then identified as Dewey Case. Dispatch advised that Case had an active warrant out of North Carolina, but was non-extraditable. Deputy Ensley then placed Case in his patrol vehicle before going to speak with the store clerk. After speaking with the clerk, he went back out to speak with Case again, who, upon stepping out of the patrol vehicle, fell onto the ground, unable to get up on his own will. Case was then placed under arrest for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct.

CRIMINAL TRESPASS: Deputy Pickens responded to Greystone Way in reference to Michael McAfee returning to the residence. McAfee had taken off running before the deputy was able to see him. This had happened two previous times in the same night. Dispatch then advised Deputy Pickens that McAfee had two active warrants for Burglary and Assault with Bodily Injury out of Knox County, Tennessee. The homeowner of the residence knew deputies were looking for him and advised that he was inside the residence. Once more units arrived, they made entry into the home with consent. He was taken into custody and transported to Exit 407 where he was released to Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

THEFT: Deputy Hoover responded to Union Hill Road in Parrottsville, in reference to a call from Central Dispatch that a theft had occurred. Dispatch advised that the vehicle believed to be a Ford Ranger had just left the property. Deputy Hoover stated that he spotted a Ford Ranger traveling towards Newport behind a Honda Civic. Deputies were able to stop the Ford Ranger and were informed that the Honda Civic was also involved. Newport Police Department stopped the Honda Civic at Price Less Foods in Newport. Deputy Hoover continued to the address of the caller and made contact with Bobby and Sheila Waldroup. Bobby stated that he heard noises outside and came into the yard. He told the deputy that “he cannot see well but can identify sound very well.” Bobby stated that he heard a Ford Ranger in his yard and began yelling at them to stop before the vehicle left the yard. Deputies that had the Ford Ranger stopped advised that the vehicle had a piece of equipment in the back that the driver, Christopher McElroy, stated was given to him by Bobby Waldroup, Jr.- the caller’s son and driver of the Honda Civic. Deputy Hoover escorted Sheila and Bobby Sr. to Price Less Foods where all parties spoke about the issues. The son, Bobby Jr. was not allowed to take the equipment according to the father. Bobby Sr. stated that he would need time to decide if he was going to press charges on his son. All parties agreed that McElroy was unaware of any wrongdoing and agreed to return the equipment to Bobby Sr.’s home. No charges have been placed on file at the time of report.