BCSO.com Headlines

Sheriff’s Office joins other area law enforcement to kick off Click It or Ticket

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James Berrong announced today that the Sheriff’s Office is joining with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies across the country in renewing a pledge to save lives by intensifying efforts to enforce seat belt laws – among all motorists and around the clock – during the 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization, which runs from May 19 through June 1.

To kick off Click It or Ticket, as well as the Hands Across the Boarder campaign, the Sheriff’s Office will join other area law enforcement agencies and the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office for a press event on May 14.

This press event will begin at 11 a.m. at the THP Knoxville District Office, which is located at 7601 Kingston Pike. Mia Vickers, deputy director of the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office, will be the guest speaker.

In 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15,046 passenger vehicle occupants were killed between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those killed at night were NOT wearing seat belts – compared to less than half (46%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed during daytime hours.

Along with nighttime motorists, men – particularly young men – are among those less likely to buckle up. In 2006, 73 percent of male passenger vehicle occupants between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes were NOT wearing seat belts.

In fact, all young people are at greatly increased risk. Sixty-four percent of teenage passenger vehicle occupants killed in fatal crashes during 2006 were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of the crashes. And the 2006 observed seat belt usage rate of those 16 to 24 was lower than any other age group.

“It is clear that far too many people still don’t take belt laws seriously,” Sheriff Berrong said. “Among some groups, especially young men, the unbuckled rate is especially high, and the fatal crash rate increases significantly at night.”

In Blount County, the seat belt usage rate is higher than the national average – 85 percent. Sheriff Berrong attributes that high rate to the vigilant efforts of the BCSO Patrol and Traffic Divisions.

Increased law enforcement activities, including seat belt check points, will be conducted nationwide during the 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization.

To learn more about the Click it or Ticket campaign and the lifesaving benefits of wearing your seat belt, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Lotto scam warning issued

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James Berrong is warning the community about an overseas Lotto scam that is circulating.

The Sheriff’s Office has received several complaints from Blount County residents about a mailer they have received from “El Combo Once International Lotto Commission”, out of Madrid, Spain. This scam is similar to the Nigerian scams that are circulated via e-mail as well as U.S. Postal Service mail. The letter states that the recipient has won the El-Combo Combote Spanish Sweepstake Lottery/International Program, and says that you are approved for a lump sum payment that will be deposited into your bank account. In order to claim the money, you must complete and return a form that includes your bank account information.

These notices are fraudulent, and the Sheriff’s Office is strongly cautioning citizens to disregard these notices. Under no circumstances, do not send any money or give out your bank account information.

These notices can also arrive in the form of e-mails.

“We are aware of these notices, and we are passing the information on to federal authorities,” Sheriff Berrong said. “Disregard these fraudulent notices. Once you have sent any money, or given out your bank account information, it is very difficult, if impossible, to get your money back because it is overseas.”

Friendsville man charged with homicide in connection with body

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said today that a 35-year-old Friendsville man is charged with criminal homicide in connection with a body that was found outside of a residence on North Union Grove Road.

Jeffrey Lee Jenkins, 35, of North Union Grove Road, Friendsville, is being held at the Blount County Adult Correctional Facility on a $500,000 bond pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. April 25.

The identity of the victim cannot be released at this time.

The Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on North Union Grove Road in Friendsville at around 7:30 a.m. Saturday where they discovered the remains of a badly burned body in the back yard of the residence.

The victim was taken to the University of Tennessee Forensics Center where the medical examiner will determine whether the remains can be autopsied, or whether it will be an anthropology case.

Additional details of the case will be released at a later date.

Missing Greenback boy, mother, located in Indiana

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said today that the 4-year-old Greenback boy who TBI put out an Endangered Child Alert earlier this week was located in Indiana overnight. He is healthy and unharmed.

Four-year-old Travis Rathbone and his mother, Vicki Rathbone, 37, were located by the Terre Haute, Indiana Police Department during the early morning hours today. They were located at a relative’s residence in Terre Haute.

The two were found by the Terre Haute Police Department, who, by working with the Milwaukee Police Department, tracked Vicki’s cell phone usage to a cell phone tower in Terre Haute. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office received a tip earlier in the week that Vicki and Travis had been spotted in Milwaukee. She also has relatives in Terre Haute.

Travis was taken into the custody of Indiana’s Child Protective Services. It has not yet been determined when Vicki will be extradited back to Tennessee, or when Travis will return.

Travis Rathbone was reported missing on April 4 by his father, James Rathbone, when Travis was not returned to James following Vicki’s scheduled visit with Travis.

“Travis was found with the assistance of several law enforcement agencies working together,” Sheriff Berrong said. “The Milwaukee Police Department, as well as the Terra Haute Police Department, were both instrumental in locating Travis and Vicki. We cannot thank them enough for their assistance.”

Knoxville man charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong announced that a 45-year-old Knoxville man is in custody at the Blount County Adult Detention Facility on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of solicitation of a minor.

Hal E. Helton, 45, of Knoxville, is being held without bond for the Shelbyville, Tennessee, Police Department. The Sheriff’s Office HEAT (High-tech Evidence and Technology), along with the Patrol Unit, picked up Helton for Shelbyville Police Department at his place of business in Blount County this afternoon.

Shelbyville Police Department has been conducting an investigation on Helton. The investigation culminated when deputies took Helton into custody for Shelbyville P.D. today.