DunlapTattler.com

INCIDENTS OF INTEREST

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 23^RD – NOVEMBER 29^TH, 2009

ARRESTS

Saturday, November 28, 2009

At approximately 4:10 P.M. Dunlap Police Sergeant Randy Phillips responded to a burglary complaint at 564 East Ridge Road in Dunlap. Upon arrival the home owner reported that she had been gone from the residence for about 20 minutes and when she returned she observed a vehicle leaving her driveway at a high rate of speed. The home owner recognized the driver of the vehicle as Morris E Whittenburg and attempted to stop the vehicle but was unsuccessful. The home owner continued on into the driveway and observed several doors open on an outbuilding at the residence. Several items were found to be missing from the outbuilding. Included in the stolen items were a pressure washer, portable generator and miscellaneous auto parts.

At approximately 9:30 P.M. Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jarred Dishman and Deputy Marlin Hobbs located Whittenburg at a residence on Lewis Chapel Mountain. Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Detectives Jody Lockhart and Marty Gipson responded to the residence and located some of the stolen items. The remaining stolen property was recovered from a residence in Soddy Daisy and later returned to the owner.

Whittenburg, 19 years of age of Soddy Daisy, and James A Stockwell,

19 years of age of Dunlap, were arrested and transported to the Sequatchie County Justice Center. Both men are charged with burglary and theft over $1000.00. They are currently being held without bond and are scheduled to appear in Sequatchie County General Sessions Court on December 19^th, 2009.

OTHER INCIDENTS

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

At approximately 6:30 P.M. Dunlap Police Officer Mark Fyfe responded to 50 Bryant Street in Dunlap on a burglary complaint. Upon arrival the home owner reported that unknown persons had entered his residence through a window and stole several items. The items stolen included approximately $300.00 in quarters, dimes and nickels, 10 CD’s and 3 blankets.

Officers were able to locate a witness to the burglary and the investigation is still on-going by Dunlap Police Detectives.

INCIDENTS OF INTEREST

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16^TH – NOVEMBER 22^nd, 2009

ARRESTS

Saturday, November 21, 2009

At approximately 10:20 P.M. Dunlap Police Officers responded to 304 Cherry Street in Dunlap on a possible burglary in progress call. Upon arrival the home owner reported that he had observed a Ford Explorer parked beside an outbuilding at the residence. The home owner entered the outbuilding and noticed an individual in the building. The home owner recognized the individual as Curtis Eugene Bryant. When the home owner confronted Bryant, Bryant exited the building through a window and fled the scene in the Ford Explorer.

Officers located Bryant shortly thereafter at a residence on Destin Drive in Dunlap. During an initial interview Bryant confessed to officers that he did enter the outbuilding without the owner’s permission.

Bryant, 26 years of age of Dunlap, was arrested for Burglary and transported to the Sequatchie County Justice Center. He is scheduled to appear in Dunlap Municipal Court on December 8^th, 2009. Officers investigating the incident were Dunlap Police Sergeant Keith Land along with Patrolmen Lynn Lewis and Robert Raber.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

At approximately 9:30 A.M. Dunlap Police Officers responded to Barker Acres on Hwy 127 in Dunlap on a kidnapping call. Upon arrival the officers learned that Bennie Lee Curtis, 31 years of age of Pikeville, TN., had entered the residence and assaulted a 24 year old female who was staying at the residence. After assaulting the female subject, it was reported to officers that Curtis put a knife to the throat of the female and forced her to leave the residence with him. Other individuals at the residence attempted to stop Curtis, but were unsuccessful due to Curtis attempting to assault them with the knife as well.

It was further reported that Curtis then forced the female subject into a Chevrolet S-10 truck and fled northbound on Hwy 127.

Officers immediately began to search for Curtis and the female subject and also notified law enforcement authorities in Pikeville and Bledsoe County. Sequatchie County 911 personnel relayed the incident information through N.C.I.C. to other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Local officers in Dunlap were soon advised that Bledsoe County Sheriff James Morris and Pikeville Police Chief Ronald Byrd had located the Chevrolet S-10 truck, driven by Curtis, behind a residence in Pikeville. After observing the law enforcement officers at the residence, the female subject was able to escape the residence and shortly thereafter Curtis surrendered to officers without any further incident.

The female subject was treated for her injuries at the scene by Bledsoe County Emergency Medical Services personnel. Her injuries consisted of several bruises, scratches, and cuts.

Curtis was transported to the Sequatchie County Justice Center and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and three counts of aggravated assault. He is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in Sequatchie County General Sessions Court on December 17^th, 2009.

Local officers responding to the incident were Dunlap Police Lieutenant Coy Swanger, Patrolman Mark Fyfe, and Detectives Keith Herron and Cody Smith.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9^TH – NOVEMBER 15^TH, 2009

ARRESTS

(For investigative purposes the following arrest incident was not previously released to the public).

Friday, October 23, 2009

At approximately 8:10 P.M. Dunlap Police Officer Lynn Lewis stopped a vehicle for speeding on Hwy 127 for speeding. After stopping the vehicle, the officer discovered that a passenger in the car, John A Patterson, 21 years of age of Dunlap, had an active arrest warrant from Sequatchie County General Sessions Court for failing to appear in court.

Officers then discovered that Patterson was in possession of a large number of numerous blank government documents, driver’s licenses, and identification cards. These blank documents included Social Security cards, Immigration and Naturalization cards, International Drivers Licenses, and Identification cards from Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri, Mexico and Guatemala. Other types of blank governmental documents were also discovered.

Patterson was arrested for Criminal Simulation and transported to the Sequatchie County Justice Center. Dunlap Police Detective Keith Herron is continuing to investigate the incident and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also been notified. Patterson is scheduled to appear in Sequatchie County General Sessions Court on November 20^th, 2009.

Shooting Incident

November 13, 2009

On Thursday, November 12, 2009, at approximately 6:18 P.M. officers of the Dunlap Police Department responded to a shooting incident at a residence on Main Street in Dunlap. Initial reports were that a male subject had been shot.

Upon arrival at the scene officers found a 22 year old male subject in the front yard of the residence and that he had been shot in the left leg. Family members of the subject were providing first aid to the injured victim.

Sequatchie County EMS responded to the scene and further treated the victim. Upon being stabilized, the victim was transported to North Valley Medical Center and shortly thereafter he was flown to Erlanger by Life Force.

The shooting suspect, a 16 year old male and brother to the victim, was also still at the scene of the incident. The suspect was initially taken into custody and transported to the Dunlap Police Department. Sequatchie County Juvenile Officer Kim Dean was also notified and responded to the incident.

Detectives of the Dunlap Police Department discovered during the initial investigation of the incident that the brothers had been arguing earlier in the evening and their father had come to the residence in an attempt to resolve the situation. The 16 year old was going to leave the residence with his father and was gathering some of his personal belonging, which included a 7mm bolt action rifle. As the two brothers were standing outside of the residence the 16 year old fired the rifle striking the older brother in the left leg. Family members present quickly took control of the weapon and began to administer first aid to the victim.

The weapon, along with other items, were taken into evidence by officers. At this point in the investigation it appears that the weapon had been a gift to the 16 year old from another family member.

Detectives interviewed the 16 year old suspect, who stated he only wanted to scare his brother, but not to shoot him. The 16 year old was charged with aggravated domestic assault and transported to the Putnam County Detention Center in Cookeville, Tennessee. He is schedule to appear before Sequatchie County Juvenile Judge L. Thomas Austin for a detention hearing at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, November 13, 2009.

The investigation in the incident is continuing and the identities of the individuals are not being released by the Dunlap Police Department.

OTHER INCIDENTS

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

At approximately 9:30 A.M. Officers of the Dunlap Police Department responded to McDonald’s on Hwy 127 in Dunlap on a complaint of suspicious items discovered in a trash can. Upon arrival an employee of McDonald’s stated he was emptying an outside trash cans when he observed a bag containing items he felt may have been used in a methamphetamine lab. The employee further stated that he had been made aware of such type items through the Methamphetamine Awareness Trailer sponsored by the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force. Officers confirmed the employee’s suspicions of the items found in the trash and discovered numerous items commonly utilized in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

Dunlap Police Detective Cody Smith responded to the scene and was successful in located evidence as to the possible suspects responsible for the hazardous materials. The investigation led officers to a residence in Dunlap. Officers then searched this residence and discovered a large amount of precursors and other items commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine. Additional evidence then led the officers to a wooded area off of Ridge Road in Dunlap which resulted in the officers locating another site where items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine were dumped.

The DEA and Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force were notified of the incident and a hazardous material disposal company responded to dispose of the hazardous chemicals discovered in the three clandestine methamphetamine labs.

The investigation is on going and multiple suspects have been identified.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

At approximately 11:46 A.M. Dunlap Police Officer Mark Fyfe responded to a stolen vehicle complaint at 15 Cottage Lane in Dunlap. Upon the officer’s arrival, Ms. Anissa Pack stated her 2007 blue Ford Mustang had been stolen. The vehicle had been parked in her driveway and was locked. The theft occurred between the hours of 10:00 P.M. November 11^th and 11:30 A.M. November 12^th.

The incident is currently under investigation. Any individual who may have information is asked to contact the Dunlap Police Department.

DUNLAP POLICE DEPARTMENT

INCIDENTS OF INTEREST

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2^ND – NOVEMBER 8^TH, 2009

ARRESTS

Saturday, November 7^th, 2009:

At approximately 4:20 A.M. Dunlap Police Officers received information of a possible intoxicated driver in a gold Toyota vehicle leaving the Kangaroo Gas Station on Hwy 127 in Dunlap. Dunlap Patrolman Lynn Lewis observed a vehicle matching the description given as it was pulling out of the gas station. The vehicle was stopped by the officer and the driver was identified as Oplis G Stewart, 44 years of age of Cookeville, TN.

Due to his extreme impairment, Stewart was unable to perform any sobriety tests. He was also found to be in possession of numerous types of prescription medication which were prescribed to other individuals. Stewart was arrested and transported to the Sequatchie County Justice Center.

Stewart was charged with 3^rd offense D.U.I., driving on revoked driver’s license, illegal possession of Schedule II Drugs, illegal possession of Schedule IV Drugs, and illegal possession of legend drugs. He is scheduled to appear in Dunlap Municipal Court on November 10^th, 2009.

Saturday, November 7^th, 2009:

At approximately 7:17 P.M. Dunlap Police Sergeant Keith Land observed a white truck driving recklessly in the parking lot of the south car wash on Hwy 127 in Dunlap. The vehicle was stopped by the officer and the driver did exhibit signs of intoxication. Officers discovered a large amount of liquor and beer in the vehicle as well.

The driver, Dean R Mullins Jr, 25 years of age of Soddy Daisy, TN. Was arrested for 2^nd offense D.U.I. and reckless driving. Mullins was transported to the Sequatchie County Justice Center and is scheduled to appear in Dunlap Municipal Court on November 10^th, 2009.

OTHER INCIDENTS

Sunday, November 8^th, 2009:

At approximately 4:25 P.M. Dunlap Police Officers received a theft call at 388 Hickory Street in Dunlap. Upon arrival, the homeowner, Jason Longson, reported that two bicycles had been stolen. The bicycles had been stored in the carport area of the residence.

One bicycle is a man’s 26 inch red Mongoose mountain bike, and the other was described as a girl’s 20 inch pink Mongoose bicycle. Both bicycles are valued at $100.00 each.

Investigating the incident was Dunlap Police Sergeant Keith Land.