BCSO.com Headlines

SHERIFF'S OFFICE EXTENDING TEXT-A-TIP INTO MIDDLE SCHOOLS

2/3/2012

February 3, 2012 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff's Office extending "Text-a-Tip" into Blount's middle schools

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong, along with Blount County Schools Director Rob Britt, Maryville City Schools Director Stephanie Thomson, Alcoa City Schools Director Dr. Brian Bell, and Blount Memorial Foundation and Community Outreach, are proud to announce the "Text-a-Tip" system is being extended into all Blount County's middle schools today. "Text-a-Tip", a system in which students can send anonymous tips regarding potential crimes or problems on school campuses, is celebrating its second anniversary as part of Blount County schools.

"Text-a-Tip" will be available beginning today at all Blount County middle schools, including Carpenters Middle School, Eagleton Middle School, Heritage Middle School, Union Grove Middle School, as well as Maryville Junior High School and Alcoa Middle School. "Text-a-Tip" was launched into all Blount County high schools in February 2010. It is also available for use by the general public through the Sheriff's Office website at www.bcso.com.

As of February 2, 2012, Blount County 911 Communications Center has received 822 tips through the "Text-a-Tip" system. Sheriff James Lee Berrong said that 90 percent of the tips that the Communications Center has received are legitimate tips.

"We view "Text-a-Tip" as a great prevention tool," Sheriff Berrong said. "The students are very aware of it, and they are not afraid to use it. Across the board, we have seen a decrease in drug activity, as well as other criminal activity, on school campuses."

The "Text-a-Tip" system, which is $1,200 per year, plus $250 for each school's access code, is funded in full with a grant through the Blount County Substance Abuse Prevention Action Team, which is under the direction of the Blount Memorial Foundation and Community Outreach. There is no cost to Blount County's taxpayers.

"Our partnership with the Blount County Community Health Initiative on "Text-a-Tip", as well as other projects over the years, is invaluable. Without their financial assistance with this program, it would not be possible for us to fund it. We are very appreciative of our partnership."

This is how the "Text-a-Tip" system works: Tipsters can send an anonymous crime tip via a text
message from their cell phone. Text message tips are completely secure and anonymous. Once the text
message is sent, the tipster receives a text message with their confidential code number so they may add additional information to the original tip, if necessary. As long as the communication has not been
stopped, then either the Blount County 911 Communication Center, or the Blount County Sheriff's Office, will be able to re-contact tipsters via text message regarding their tip. Students are given a predetermined number in which to send a text message. Tipsters will then type a key word before the tip message. Blount County 911 receives an alert that they have received a tip, and will type a message back to the tipster asking questions to discern what the situation is, and how it should be handled. During school, the tips are handled by school resource officers. When school is not in session, patrol is responsible for tips of a criminal nature.

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SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZEN'S ACADEMY CLASS

1/18/2012

January 18, 2012 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff's Office accepting applications for Citizen's Academy

The Blount County Sheriff's Office is currently seeking applications for its upcoming Sheriff's Citizen's Academy, which begins Thursday, March 1. Anyone interested in applying for a spot in the class can access the application on the Sheriff's Office website at www.bcso.com. You may also request an application by mail by calling 273-5110.

The deadline for applying for the upcoming class is February 1.

Classes will meet every Thursday night beginning March 1 and culminate on May 10 with graduation. Elective classes will be held on Monday nights. Topics include patrol functions, criminal investigations, Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, corrections, Sheriff's Entry Team, K-9 Unit, HEAT (Hi-tech Evidence and Technology) Unit, among others. Students will also take field trips to the airport, 911 Communications Center, and the Sheriff's Office firearms range and driving track.

For additional information, please call Marian O'Briant at 273-5110.

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TWO CHILDREN RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY CAR

1/5/2012

January 5, 2012 Contact: Marian O'Briant

Two children receive minor injuries after being struck by car; driver cited

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said today two Carpenters Middle School students received minor injuries this morning after being struck by a car while crossing the road to get on a waiting school bus.

The two boys, ages 12 and 14, were taken to the emergency room at Blount Memorial Hospital for treatment.

At around 7:35 this morning, the two boys were crossing the street to get on a waiting school on Miser Station Road at Benson Lane. James Ralph Bowerman, 78, S. Farnum Street, Friendsville, was traveling north on Miser Station Road. He said he did not see the children crossing the street, but did see the school bus's flashing yellow lights. He said by the time he saw the red lights start flashing, he did not have time to stop.

Bowerman was cited with failure to stop for a school bus.

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TWO MARYVILLE MEN CHARGED IN OVERNIGHT AUTO BURGLARIES

12/27/2011

December 27, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Maryville men charged in overnight auto burglaries

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said two Maryville men are in custody today following a string of car burglaries overnight that led to an inactive meth lab at the men's shared apartment.

Joshua Dewayne Byrn, 22, Wildwood Road, Maryville, and Gregory Read Stewart, 25, same address, are both in custody at the Blount County Correctional Facility. Byrn is charged with possession of burglary tools, burglary of a vehicle, and initiating the process of the manufacture of methamphetamine. Total bond for Byrn has not yet been set. Stewart is charged with possession of burglary tools and burglary of a vehicle. He is also charged with two counts of violation of probation. He is being held on bonds totaling $8,000. Both men will face their charged in Blount County General Sessions Court 1t 9 a.m. December 30. Additional charges against the men may be pending.

Blount County Sheriff's deputies responded to the area of Belmont Avenue at around 3:30 this morning after witnesses saw the two men breaking into several different vehicles at residences on Belmont Avenue. Maryville Police Department also responded and assisted with a K-9 search. One of the suspects, Stewart, was located hiding near a residence on Dunn Avenue. Deputies located Byrn at his apartment on Wildwood Road, along with burglary tools and a mask. Deputies also found a backpack containing several stolen items from the vehicle burglaries near a residence on Belmont Avenue. While at the men's apartment, deputies discovered an inactive "one pot" meth lab, but no indication that a cook had taken place recently. The Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force was called to the scene to dispose of the components.

Some of the items recovered from the vehicle burglary include a portable DVD, GPS, and a purse.

After arriving at the Blount County Correctional Facility, the Maryville Fire Department arrived and decontaminated Byrn and Stewart as a precautionary measure.

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KNOXVILLE MAN IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN AT SCHOOL

12/14/2011

December 14, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

One man in custody following lockdown at middle school

Sheriff James Lee Berrong said a Knoxville man is in custody following a lockdown at Carpenters Middle School this afternoon.

Ernest Dean Vickers, 42, Chickamauga Avenue, Knoxville, is being held in the Blount County Correctional Facility on bonds totaling $2,000 on the charges of domestic violence with assault and simple assault pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. December 29.

At around 3 p.m., the Sheriff's Office responded to Carpenters Middle School after Vickers came on campus making threats to his ex-girlfriend on the telephone in the school office. Earlier in the day, as well as over the past several weeks, Vickers made threatening phone calls to another individual associated with his ex-girlfriend. A decision was made to put the school on lockdown as a precautionary measure for the safety of the children and the staff. The children were released shortly after 4 p.m.

Knoxville Police Department took Vickers into custody at his Knoxville residence at around 4:45, and he was transported back to Blount County.

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SEARCH WARRANT TURNS UP ILLEGAL "POTPOURRI"; MAN CITED

12/13/2011

December 12, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Search warrant turns up illegal "potpourri"; man cited

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said a search warrant executed at a local business by the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force late this afternoon turned up almost 150 packets of illegal "potpourri". In addition, one man was cited.

Marcus Erving DeHart, 27, Madison Avenue, Maryville, was cited with possession of Salvia Divinorium A. DeHart is the owner of SmokeyZ Discount Tobacco on Alcoa Highway, the business where the search warrant was executed.

Investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force executed the search warrant at SmokeyZ Discount Tobacco following multiple undercover purchases of the "potpourri" over the past several weeks. Nearly 150 packets of the potpourri were seized. The packets were marketed under five different brand names. Prices of the potpourri ranged from $15 to $70. In addition to the potpourri, more than $1,000 was seized from the store.

Illegal "potpourri", which contains substances that are illegal to sell, possess, or manufacture as part of the law, continues to be one of Tennessee's leading problems, causing health care concerns and increased visits to the emergency room because of its lethal side effects. Young buyers are especially attracted to it because of its availability, even though Tennessee and many other states passed laws this year that ban the sale or possession of the substances. Many of the products do not contain labels with the ingredients, so businesses continue to sell the products even though possession is against the law.

"We will keep working cases such as these because of the many problems associated with the use of these products," Sheriff Berrong said. "Since the last search warrant we executed a few weeks ago at another local business, it was reported to us that a local person fell victim to its use, and ended up in the emergency room. We will continue with these search warrants until Blount County businesses stop selling these products."

The State of Tennessee is holding a statewide "webinar" for law enforcement officers January 5, 2012, which will increase our efforts to enforce the new law.

The Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of officers and deputies with the Alcoa Police Department, the Blount County Sheriff's Office, and the Maryville Police Department.

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SHERIFF'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING DOG ATTACK, 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL STABLE

12/2/2011

December 2, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff's Office investigating dog attack; three-year-old girl in stable condition

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said a three-year-old girl is in stable condition following an attack on the girl by six dogs earlier today.

The girl is listed in stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The Sheriff's Office responded to a residence in Seymour this morning to the report of dogs attacking a three-year-old girl, who was bleeding from wounds on her head, face, neck and throat area. The girl's mother said she and the girl were in the back yard playing with the dogs. The girl's mother returned to the kitchen for a glass of water for the girl, and when she came back out a moment later, the dogs had the girl down on the ground, biting her. The girl's mother pulled the dogs off from her and called for help.

The girl was taken by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The dogs, poodles, and pit bull mixes, are being quarantined on the property pending a follow-up by Blount County Animal Control.

There are no criminal charges at the time of this release.

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TWO CITED DURING NARCOTICS SEARCH WARRANT

11/22/2011

November 22, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Blount County residents cited during search warrant

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said today two Blount County residents were cited during a search warrant of a tobacco store in Maryville Monday night.

Yvonne Diane Newberry, 49, of Rockford, was cited for simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), and Gene Marlene Owenby, 45, of Maryville, was cited for simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance (Hydrochodone).

Monday night, investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the Smoker's Discount on East Broadway Avenue in Maryville. The search of the business was the result of repeated citizen complaints and undercover controlled buys of "potpourri" from the business. During the search warrant, numerous packages of "potpourri" were recovered, along with several thousand dollars in currency from sales. The store employees, Newberry and Owenby, were in possession of the marijuana and Hydrochodone.

Charges are pending against the owners of the establishment, as well as any managers, as the investigation unfolds. The specific names of the potpourri drug were not disclosed at the time of this release. Sheriff Berrong said the names of the drugs seized were not disclosed because we do not want other retail stores to think we are only concerned with specific name brands. He warns that if a person or business is selling these substances that do not reveal their ingredients on the package, they are doing so at their own risk, and Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force investigators will continue to investigate other businesses that are found to be selling these items.

The new law restricting the sale, possession, and distribution of these substances went into effect July 1, 2011. Since then, there has been more than one incident where people in our community have had medical reactions while consuming these substances, not knowing the real dangers.

The Fifth Judicial Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of officers and deputies with the Blount County Sheriff's Office, the Alcoa and Maryville police departments, as well as the Attorney General's Office.

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SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HOLD SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT

11/20/2011

November 20, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff's Office to hold sobriety checkpoint

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announced today the Sheriff's Office will hold a sobriety checkpoint Wednesday, November 23, at an undisclosed time and location.

The Sheriff's Office is required to conduct a certain number of sobriety checkpoints each year as part of the grant requirements set forth by the Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office.

Deputies will be alert for impaired drivers, as well as other safety violations.

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ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

11/15/2011

November 15, 2011 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

Maryville, TN - A team of assessors from the Commission on the Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Saturday, November 19, to examine all aspects of the Blount County Sheriff's Office's policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services, Sheriff James Berrong announced today.

Verification by the team that the Sheriff's Office meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation - a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Sheriff James Berrong said.

As part of the on-site assessment, Sheriff's Office employees and members of the community are invited to attend and offer comments at a public information session at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 21. The session will be conducted in the Blount County Circuit Court, Division I courtroom, located on the third floor of the Blount County Justice Center.

If for some reason an individual cannot attend the public information session, but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he or she may do so by telephone or email. The public may call 273-5140 or send an email at bcso@bcso.com on Monday, November 21, between the hours of 2:00p.m. and 4:00p.m. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public session, are limited to 10 minutes, and must address the Sheriff's Offices' ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Sheriff's Office in the Justice Center. Local contact is Sheriff's Office Lt. Chris Cantrell at 273-5129.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Sheriff's Office's ability to meet the standards for re-accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13535 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155, or email at calea@calea.org.

The Sheriff's Office has to comply with 459 standards in order to gain re-
accreditation status, Sheriff James Berrong said. The effort to meet those
standards has allowed us to enhance the accountability of the Sheriff's Office, and assures us that in the future, this accountability will continue since we must be re-accredited every three years. The re-accreditation effort ensures that we provide the most effective and efficient criminal justice services to the citizens of Blount County as possible while at the same time enhancing professionalism of all Sheriff's Office employees.

The Sheriff's Office Accreditation Manager, Lt. Chris Cantrell, said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview employees, and others associated with the operation of the Sheriff's Office, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be witnessed. The assessors are: Chief Roy Liddicott, Broward County Sheriff's Office, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Lt. Paul Lindenschmidt, Mason Police Department, Mason, Ohio. Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the Sheriff's Office is to be granted re-accreditation status.

Accreditation is for three years, during which time the Sheriff's Office must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. The Blount County Sheriff's Office was awarded initial accreditation in March of 2003 and re-accreditation in March of 2006 and March 2009.

For more information regarding CALEA, write the Commission at: 13535 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155, or call 800.368.3757. Information is also available on their website at www.calea.org.

We welcome you to address or send your comments to the Assessment Team and be a part of our re-accreditation.

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