BCSO.com Headlines

MARYVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR

9/3/2010

September 3, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maryville man charged with sexual exploitation of a minor

Sheriff James Lee Berrong said today a 24-year-old Maryville man is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor following a search warrant at the man's residence Thursday evening.

Gary Matthew Payne, 24, Elkmont Circle, Maryville, is being held in the Blount County Detention Facility on a $25,000 bond pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. September 10.

Payne's arrest is the result of an undercover on-line investigation by the Sheriff's Office HEAT (Hi-Tech Evidence and Technology) Unit, as part of ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children). Thursday, investigators with the HEAT Unit executed a search warrant at Payne's residence and seized his computer. A forensic review of the hard drive of Payne's computer revealed several videos of child pornography.

The Sheriff's Office Patrol Unit assisted the HEAT Unit.

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WALLAND MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR

9/1/2010

September 1, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Walland man charged with sexual exploitation of a minor

Sheriff James Lee Berrong said today a 43-year-old Walland man is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor following a search warrant at the man's residence.

John Edwards Hicks, 43, Bethlehem Road, Walland, is being held in the Blount County Detention Facility on a $100,000 bond pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. September 10.

Hicks' arrest is the result of a month-long undercover on-line investigation by the Sheriff's Office HEAT (Hi-Tech Evidence and Technology) Unit, as part of ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children). Tuesday, investigators with the HEAT Unit executed a search warrant at Hicks' residence and seized his computer. A forensic sweep of the hard drive of Hicks' computer revealed numerous images of child pornography.

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MARYVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE

8/27/2010

August 27, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maryville man charged with criminal homicide

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announced a 41-year-old Maryville man was charged with criminal homicide this afternoon following an investigation into a shooting incident that occurred earlier this week.

Edward Lynn Irwin, 41, Calderwood Highway, Maryville, is being held in the Blount County Detention Facility on a $75,000 bond pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. September 3.

Tuesday afternoon, the Blount County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Reagan Mill Road in reference to a deceased person. When deputies arrived, they found the victim, Darrell Wayne Young, 59, who resides at that residence, lying on the bathroom floor with an apparent gun shot wound to the head. He was deceased. Detectives and crime scene investigators arrived and processed the scene. During interviews with the victims' family and friends, information came to light that Irwin had visited with Young at his Reagan Mill residence on Tuesday. Detectives located Irwin Wednesday afternoon and brought him to the Sheriff's Office for investigation, and an autopsy was performed on Young Wednesday at the University of Tennessee Medical Center the same day.

The investigation into Young's death is continuing.

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MARYVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH SEX. EXP OF A MINOR

8/27/2010

August 27, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maryville man charged with sexual exploitation of a minor following search warrant

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said a 36-year-old Maryville man was charged today with sexual exploitation of a minor following a search warrant at the man's residence.

Christopher J. Lang, Mountain View Avenue, Maryville, is being held in the Blount County Detention Facility on a $25,000 bond pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. September 3.

Over the past several weeks, investigators with the HEAT (Hi-Tech Evidence and Technology) Unit, as part of ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children), conducted an investigation on Lang. Wednesday, HEAT investigators executed a search warrant at Lang's residence and seized his computer. The hard drive of the computer revealed several images of child pornography.

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WANTED SUSPECT ARRESTED; TWO OTHERS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

8/26/2010

August 26, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff's Office locates wanted suspect; takes two additional men
into custody

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said that a Maryville man who attempted to drag a deputy with his vehicle Monday night is in custody today. In addition, deputies arrested two other men while searching for the wanted man.

Adam Thomas Law, 24, Laws Chapel Road, Maryville, is being held in the Blount County Detention Facility, and is charged with evading arrest, criminal attempt to commit theft over $1,000, two counts of felony reckless endangerment, vandalism, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond amounts and the court date has not yet been set.

The Sheriff's Office has been looking for Law since Tuesday night. Law fled the scene after attempting to steal a boat from a residence on Rocky Branch Road, and then dragged a Sheriff's deputy a short distance with his vehicle as the deputy and his partner were trying to arrest him. Law left the scene of that incident in a pick-up truck. The truck was found early Wednesday morning a short distance from the scene of the attempted theft, but Law was not located.

At around 1:30 this afternoon, deputies received information that he may be at a residence on Russell Road in Rockford. Law found out that he was about to be captured, and fled the scene on foot. Deputies searched for Law in that area, and he was taken into custody in a field off Russell Road shortly after 3:30.

During the search for Law, a deputy saw another individual who matched Law's description walking on Self Hollow Road. When the man saw the patrol car, he ran. The deputy apprehended him a short distance away. That individual admitted that he fled because there was a warrant on him for back child support. He was taken into custody on those warrants.

A short time later and prior to the capture of Law, investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force went to a residence on Russell Road looking for Law. While at that residence, they learned that there was an individual at that residence who was wanted on a 2003 warrant for burglary and theft of property.

Alcoa Police Department assisted in the search.

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KNOXVILLE MAN KILLED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

8/9/2010

August 9, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant
Telephone: 273-5110
Cell Phone: 755-8640
E-mail: mobriant@bcso.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knoxville man killed in one vehicle accident

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said today that a 48-year-old Knoxville man was killed this morning in a one vehicle accident on Burnett Station Road.

Michael David Pace, 48, of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the University of Tennessee Medical Center shortly after the accident, which occurred 5:56 a.m.

Pace was traveling south on Burnett Station Road in a 2007 Honda Civic. While negotiating a curve, Pace's vehicle went off the right side of the roadway, came back on the roadway and went off the left side of the roadway, traveling down an embankment before hitting a large tree and coming to a stop. Pace was not wearing a seatbelt.

The Blount County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit investigated the accident.

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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CORRECTION'S RESERVE PROGRAM

8/5/2010

August 4, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

E-mail: mobriant@bcso.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff's Office accepting applications for correction's reserve program

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong announced today that the Sheriff's Office is accepting applications for the new correction's reserve program. This program is for anyone that is interested in receiving experience in the field of corrections.

This is strictly a volunteer program. Applicants must be 21-years-old to participate. The Sheriff's Office will provide the necessary training, which will consist of working with corrections officers in the Adult Corrections Division. Duties may include, but are not limited to, normal corrections operations, transporting inmates, investigations, and special events.

Those interested may call and leave a message for Randy Cruze at 273-5210 for additional information.

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DEPUTY INJURED, TWO K-9S TAKEN TO VET CLINIC DURING SUSPECT SEARCH

8/4/2010

August 4, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant
Telephone: 273-5110
Cell Phone: 755-8640
E-mail: mobriant@bcso.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Deputy injured, two K-9's taken to veterinary clinic during search for
burglary suspects

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said that a deputy was taken to the hospital for dehydration during the search for two burglary suspects this afternoon. In addition, two Sheriff's Office K-9s were taken to a veterinary clinic for treatment for heat exhaustion.

One burglary suspect, a juvenile, was taken into custody.

Deputy Nathan Payne, a K-9 deputy, was taken by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service to Blount Memorial Hospital. He is currently receiving treatment in the emergency room.

K-9 Hansen and K-9 Bruno, both Belgian Malinois' and duel purpose K-9s, are receiving treatment at a local veterinary clinic for heat exhaustion. K-9 Bruno, in service with the Sheriff's Office since 2004, was released after receiving several liters of fluid as a precautionary measure. K-9 Hansen, in service since 2006, was unresponsive at the time of this release.

At around 1p.m., sheriff's deputies responded to the area around an apartment complex located on Wrights Ferry Road in reference to a complaint of a burglary in progress. Witnesses told deputies they saw two suspects run into the woods near the complex. Deputies and K-9 teams responded and began a track in the area. Approximately an hour and a half into the search, one juvenile suspect was taken into custody, while the other remained at large. The deputies continued their track until around 3:30 p.m., when the search for the remaining suspect was suspended due to the excessive heat.

Knox County Sheriff's Office Airwatch also assisted by air in the search for the suspects.

The juvenile suspect was taken to the Blount County Juvenile Facility. The investigation into the burglary is ongoing.

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INMATE ESCAPES, CAPTURED WITHIN MINUTES

7/20/2010

July 20, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inmate escapes; captured within minutes

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said today that an inmate who was receiving treatment at Blount Memorial Hospital escaped, but was apprehended within minutes.

Michael David Word, 44, was about to be released from BMH when he ran out of his room, closing the officer's hand in the door before fleeing the hospital on foot. The correction's officer chased after Word, and apprehended him on Elizabeth Street, approximately one mile from BMH.

The corrections officer was hurt, and is currently receiving treatment at BMH for an injury to his hand. Word was taken back to BMH, and will be returned to the detention facility this afternoon. He will be charged with felony escape, and could possibly face additional charges.

Word was booked into the Blount County Detention Facility on Sunday for violating his probation on misdemeanor charges.

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ELDERLY MARYVILLE WOMAN VICTIM OF ROBBERY

7/18/2010

July 17, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant

E-mail: mobriant@bcso.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elderly woman victim of robbery

Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said that an 82-year-old Maryville woman was the victim of an armed robbery that occurred in her home this afternoon.

Blount County Sheriff's deputies responded to the woman's residence at around 3:30 p.m. today to the call of a robbery. When they arrived, the victim told deputies that two men knocked on her door, and when she opened it, the men, who both wearing masks, pushed their way inside her residence. She said the men were armed. She said they tied her to a chair, and stole cash from her. The woman was not injured.

The Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident. Anyone with any information regarding this robbery is asked to call the Sheriff's Office 24 hour Crime Hotline at 273-5200, or report the information on the Text-a-Tip link at www.bcso.com.

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