BCSO.com Headlines

Standoff suspect charged

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong announced that the Maryville man who was taken into custody Monday following a 45-minute standoff with deputies was just charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, destruction of evidence, and drug paraphernalia.

Charles Edward Binger, 48, Argyle Way, Maryville, is being held on bonds totaling $131,000 pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. August 14.

Today, investigators with the HEAT (Hi Tech Evidence and Technology) Unit conducted computer forensics on the computers that were seized during the search warrant. A preview of the hard drives revealed several images of child pornography.

At around 3:15 Monday, HEAT Unit investigators were attempting to serve a search warrant on Binger. After the search warrant was executed, Binger fled upstairs, investigators pursuing him, when Binger announced that he had a gun. With the knowledge that a juvenile female was inside of the residence, investigators went back outside and took cover behind their vehicle. A reverse 911 was sent out to alert neighbors to stay inside of their residences. Approximately 45 minutes later, Binger exited his garage door holding the search warrant, at which time HEAT investigators subdued him and took him into custody.

During the investigation following Binger’s arrest Monday, investigators discovered that Binger had destroyed several compact discs. The Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force was contacted after investigators also discovered various marijuana seeds, along with drug paraphernalia.

Additional charges against Binger may be forthcoming.

Maryville man in custody following a short stand off

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said today that a 48-year-old Maryville man is in custody tonight at the Blount County Detention Facility following a short stand-off at the man’s residence on Argyle Way.

The identity of the man will be released after he has been formally charged on Tuesday.

At around 3:15 p.m., investigators with the HEAT (Hi-Tech Evidence and Technology) Unit were attempting to serve a search warrant on the man at his Argyle Way residence. After the search warrant was executed, the man fled upstairs, with investigators in pursuit of him. The man announced that he had a gun. Knowing that a juvenile female was inside the residence, the deputies went back outside and took cover behind their vehicle. The SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team was put on standby. Responding deputies cleared the residences that are located in proximity to the suspect’s residence, and a reverse 911 went out to other homes in that subdivision advising them to stay inside until further notice.

Approximately 45 minutes later, the man exited his garage door holding the search warrant, at which time HEAT investigators subdued him and took him into custody.

There were no injuries reported. HEAT investigators requested that the Fifth Judicial Drug Task force respond to the scene. Four computers were seized, as well as several weapons, one of which is illegal. Investigators are in the process of conducting forensics examinations on the seized computers. The investigation is continuing. Additional information will be released Tuesday.

Two women charged in methamphetamine bust

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said today that two women were taken into custody today and charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Deborah Sue Wattenbarger, 44, of Athens, and Tracy Leeann Young, 39, of Vonore, are in custody at the Blount County Detention Facility. Both women are charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. They are being held at the Blount County Detention Facility. Bond amounts and court dates have not yet been set.

Today, investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force were alerted to the arrival of persons shopping for pseudoephedrine and acting suspiciously at a couple different Blount County businesses. Investigators made contact with Wattenbarger and Young in the parking lot of one of the businesses. Each woman had successfully purchased the pseudoephedrine, and admitted that it was going to be sold to a “Meth Cook” in another county.

A three-year-old boy, who is the son of Young, was with the two women. The boy was turned over to Young’s family members.

The Fifth Judicial Drug Task is comprised of officers and deputies of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryville Police Department, and the Alcoa Police Department. All investigators assigned to narcotics investigations are members of the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, which allows for specific statewide intelligence sharing used to identify, investigate, and prosecute persons using and manufacturing methamphetamine.

Three individuals charged in meth bust

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said that the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force arrested three individuals today on methamphetamine-related charges following an investigation that led to a meth lab inside of a Maryville motel room.

Richard R. Pierce, 34, of Decatur, Tiffany A. Romine, 29, of Decatur, and Jason Allen Martin, 22, of Tellico Plains, are currently being held at the Blount County Detention Facility. Pierce is being charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine, initiating the manufacture of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Romine is charged with possession without a prescription (Zoloft), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Martin is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges on all three may be forthcoming pending the outcome of the continuing investigation. A fourth individual was released with no charges. Bond amounts have not yet been set. All three individuals will face a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. July 22.

Earlier today, investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force were alerted to the presence of persons who were suspiciously shopping for pseudoephedrine. Narcotics investigators responded to a local business where contact was made with the individuals in the parking lot of that business. During the course of the investigation, and after placing the individuals into custody, a Maryville Police officer discovered a motel key that one of the suspects had stuffed down into the seat of the patrol car. That led investigators to the motel room that the suspects had earlier rented, and discovered several other components used for manufacturing methamphetamine.

The motel room was secured, and Drug Task Force investigators who are certified in methamphetamine lab dismantling inventoried the materials. The Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, along with a company that specializes in hazardous materials disposal arrived to take possession of the hazardous materials.

There were no injuries reported in today’s incident.

The Maryville Fire and Police departments, along with Rural Metro Ambulance Service, also responded to the scene.

The Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of officers and deputies of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryville Police Department, and the Alcoa Police Department. All investigators assigned to narcotics investigations are members of the Tennessee Meth Task Force, which allows for specific statewide intelligence sharing used to identify, investigate, and prosecute persons using and manufacturing methamphetamine.

To date, this is the first meth lab in Blount County this calendar year, and there have been 389 labs seized in the state of Tennessee since October 2008.

Friendsville woman held against her will overnight; suspect in custody

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said today that a 50-year-old Walland man is in custody at the Blount County Detention Facility after holding a Friendsville woman against her will at her home overnight.

Mark Wesley Givler, 50, Rocky Branch Road, Walland, has been charged with one count of especially aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated domestic assault, and two counts of aggravated burglary. He is being held on bonds totaling $100,000 pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 1:30 p.m. July 15.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to the woman’s residence off Disco Loop Road in Friendsville at around 8 a.m. The 47-year-old woman told deputies that Givler broke into her residence between 9:30 and 10 p.m. Wednesday evening, attempted to bind her to a chair, and put a gun to her throat. She said she was able to break free and calm him down, but he kept the gun in his possession and continually threatened to commit suicide. At one point during the night, she escaped from him and attempted to swim across the channel, but he caught her. He finally left the residence at around 7 a.m., and she called 911.

Givler is the woman’s estranged boyfriend.