Dresden Enterprise - Covering Weakley County Like the Dew from Heaven for 118 Years

A Gleason police officer has been demoted and suspended from duty pending the outcome of a psychological evaluation, after he allegedly fired a weapon several times while under the influence of alcohol.

According to a Gleason Police Department report filed by Investigator David Andrews, Jr., at approximately 5:14 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, Officer Andrews was dispatched to 501 East Union Street in Gleason to investigate a report of shots being fired near that location.

Upon his arrival at the scene, Officer Andrews spoke with the complainant, Joe Reynolds, who told him that the people who had just moved into the house next door had been shooting a gun and they were being loud.

Officer Andrews says that he then went to the red brick house located just west of the home of the complainant and spoke to Officer Jeff Hazlewood, who had a bottle of alcohol in his possession. Officer Andrews told Hazlewood that a complaint had been made about a weapon being fired. Hazlewood replied that he was “done for the day and everything was okay.”

Hazlewood then asked if Mr. Reynolds had complained, to which Officer Andrews stated that he had. At first, Hazlewood cursed and told the officer that if Mr. Reynolds wanted to complain he should do so at a board meeting. But then, Hazlewood apologized two or three times.

Officer Andrews states that the residence where this took place was that of Hazlewood’s girlfriend. He added that Scott Riley was also present and had a container of open alcohol.

Officer Andrews states that Hazlewood appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and had been firing a weapon in an unsafe area. Andrews also notes that he heard the shots being fired prior to getting a call for service.

Due to Hazlewood being Officer Andrews’ superior officer, he then left the scene and informed Chief Stewart about Hazlewood discharging a firearm inside the city limits while being under the influence of alcohol.

(Read the rest of this story in this week's edition of The Dresden Enterprise!)

Missing Martin man found in Nashville

Last week, authorities found a Martin man just east of Nashville after being missing for over 24 hours.

A Tennessee State Trooper found 36-year-old David Brodrick, Jr. around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday after spotting the 2001 Ford Windstar minivan Brodrick was driving. The van, which had run out of gas, was located off Hwy. 24 near Hendersonville, Tennessee. Brodrick, who was unharmed, but slightly disoriented, was taken to Skyline Hospital where he was treated for a diabetic condition and exhaustion.

Union City law enforcement officials initiated a search for the missing Martin man last Wednesday afternoon, after family members filed a missing persons report. Investigators learned that Brodrick had walked off of the job during the afternoon of Wednesday, February 21, after arguing with a fellow employee at Ryan’s Steakhouse Restaurant located on Reelfoot Avenue in Union City. They also found out that the missing man, who was described as being slightly mentally handicapped, needed to be located quickly, due to his diabetic condition that requires him to take medication on a regular basis. Family members reportedly said that Brodrick was scheduled to take his medicine at home around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

A security camera at Ryan’s showed the missing man driving away from the parking lot at approximately 3 p.m. in a red, 2001 Ford Windstar minivan. Police also had a physical description of Brodrick, which noted that the missing man was about 5 feet, 10-inches tall, 200 pounds, with slightly gray hair. He was also described as wearing glasses, and when last seen on the day of his disappearance, was wearing a Ryan’s uniform composed of a dark pants and a white shirt.

(Read the rest of this story in the February 28th edition of The Dresden Enterprise!)

Sharon board discusses third party billing for fire calls

By David Fisher

Staff Reporter

During discussion of rural fire subscriptions at the February meeting of the Sharon Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the board explored ways that might be implemented to get people to pay for fire service who don’t normally pay, as well as how to get them to pay for rural fire calls. They also dealt with developing a hazard mitigation plan, a code of ethics policy, a CDBG grant, rental rates for the Sharon Community Center, problems with skateboarders, and how to deal with the stray dog issue.

After hearing from Sharon Fire Chief Stacey Bostwick, who informed the board that fewer and fewer people residing in the Sharon Fire Department’s fire protection coverage zone located outside the city limits are paying the required $70 annual fee, board members discussed the possibility of increasing the rate for responding to rural fires from $750 to $2,250, with the homeowners’ insurance companies paying $500. Board members reasoned that this would be an extra incentive to get citizens to pay their rural fire subscription fees, or be penalized.

The board also discussed what to the city could do in order for the Sharon Fire Department to be reimbursed for the expenses it incurs in responding to automobile accidents - either to provide fire protection in the event of a car fire as the result of a crash, or to set up a helicopter landing zone. One possibility to obtain payment considered was third party billing. For example, if the Sharon Fire Department sends firefighters and equipment to an automobile wreck, the fire department could bill the individual’s medical or auto insurance. It was mentioned that there would be more information about how such a third party billing system might be implemented at the next board meeting.

(Read the rest of this story, plus much more in this week's print edition of The Dresden Enterprise!)