ARCHIVES
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News Headlines
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
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Two charged
in Sharon arson case |
Two
Sharon residents have been charged with starting a recent
fire that caused approximately $10,000 in damage to a Sharon
business.
Shawn Dwayne Wade,
31, of 572 North Martin and Kelly Renee Totty, 30, of 572
North Martin have been charged with the Oct. 6 arson fire at
Eagle Motors, located at 5921 Highway 45 North in Sharon,
which is owned by Lowell Thomas Harrison.
According to a press
release issued by the Sharon Police Department, Sharon
Police Chief Brad Hardin and Lt. Scott Watkins received a
call at approximately 10:37 p.m. from the dispatcher
informing them that a building was on fire.
Upon their arrival
at the scene, Lt. Scott Watkins noticed that the front
window had been broken out and entry had been made into the
business. There were several items on a table in front of
the window that had been knocked over, as someone made entry
through the window.
Members of the
Sharon Fire Department were assisted by firefighters from
the Martin, Greenfield and Dresden fire departments in
battling the blaze. Other agencies assisting during the
incident were members of the Weakley County Sheriff's
Department and Weakley County Ambulance Service personnel.
After members of the
Sharon Fire Department extinguished the fire, Chief Hardin
and Sharon Fire Chief Stacy Bostwick conducted an
investigation of the crime scene. This resulted in the
decision to contact the Tennessee Bomb and Arson Unit, in
order to determine the cause of the fire, according to the
report.
In the meantime, the
investigation led Chief Hardin and Lt. Watkins to a suspect.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10,
Agent Ron Powers and Special Agent Kevin Isley of the
Tennessee Bomb and Arson Unit investigated the scene and
interviewed the suspect, who was identified as Shawn Dwayne
Wade. During the interview, Wade reportedly confessed he
broke into the building and started the blaze. According to
the report, Renee Totty of 572 North Martin Avenue was
discovered to be an accessory, because she allegedly broke
out the window and watched for police while Wade entered the
building and started a fire.
(Read the rest of the story in the
November 1st print edition of the
Dresden Enterprise!)
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W.C.S.D.
arrests two and seek third suspect in anhydrous theft |
Members of the Weakley County Sheriff’s
Department have arrested two individuals and a third suspect
remains on the run in connection with the theft of anhydrous
ammonia over the weekend.
According to a press
release from Investigator Randall McGowan of the Weakley
County Sheriff’s Department, on Sunday, October 29, three
suspects were caught stealing anhydrous ammonia from
Robinson-Belew Grain Company in Sharon by Investigator Marty
Plunk of the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department.
After a short chase,
Stephanie Bowlin, 27, of Trezevant and Jeremy Wray, 20, of
Bradford were arrested on Mt. Vernon Road. Warrants have
also been signed on a third suspect, identified as Michael
Morphis, 29, of Gibson County (address unknown), who jumped
out of the car and fled on foot carrying a jug of anhydrous
ammonia. The suspect then dropped the jug in a ditch before
running from the scene.
Anhydrous ammonia is
normally used by farmers as a fertilizer, but it is also one
of the main ingredients used in the manufacture of
methamphetamine. For this reason, unauthorized possession of
the substance is illegal. Since farm supply companies store
anhydrous ammonia for sale to farmers in large tanks, these
businesses are a prime target of thieves seeking to obtain
the chemical in order to manufacture the illegal drug.
(Read the rest of the story in the November 1st print edition of the
Dresden Enterprise!)
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Martin man
charged with rape of juvenile |
A Martin man was
arrested Oct. 11 by investigators with the Weakley County
Sheriff’s Department on one count of rape for allegedly
having sexual relations with a teenager.
Arrested in the case
was Bobby Robertson, 60, of 2292 Old Gardner Road, who is
listed as pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church on Highway
118 just outside of Latham.
According to an
affidavit filed in Weakley County General Sessions Court,
“Between the dates of Feb. 14, 1999 and Feb. 14, 2003”
Robertson “did sexually penetrate the victim.” The affidavit
also states that Robertson is the victim’s adopted father.
According to a
report filed by WCSD Inv. Eric Smith, who was the arresting
officer in the case, at approximately 1 p.m. on October 3,
Inv. Smith was dispatched to the University of Tennessee at
Martin to take a possible rape report. The officer states
that upon his arrival, he interviewed a 23-year-old woman,
who stated that her adopted father, Bobby Robertson, raped
her from age 16 to age 19. She said that her stepfather
would come into her room during weekday mornings before he
went to work and rape her. She stated that he would fondle
her breasts and penetrate her vaginally with his finger. She
added that she would continue to act as if she were asleep
during these incidents because she didn’t know what to do.
The alleged victim stated that her mother was home during
the times she was raped, but she was always asleep.
The complainant said
that she is now in fear for her 17-year-old sister, who is
still living with Mr. Robertson.
Robertson was
ordered to appear in Weakley County General Sessions Court
on Wednesday, November 22 for his preliminary hearing.
Robertson remains free on a $2,500 bond.
Robertson faces one
count of Class B felony rape. If convicted, the maximum
sentence is 8-12 years in prison.
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