Wednesday, November 15th

From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Wednesday, November 15th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.

In news today…

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has added a new member to their K-9 Unit. He’s nearly 2.5 feet tall on all four legs and weighs 75 pounds – his name is Jäger and he’s a Dutch Shepherd. Jäger, who is certified as an official multi-purpose dog, was purchased last August for the agency. His certifications include tracking, criminal apprehension, building searches, and narcotics detection.

Deputy Chris Shope, his handler, said he is  trained to locate five main odors of illegal narcotics that include methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and ecstasy. Shope attended and completed a 6-week Handler’s Course with Starr Mountain Canine Academy after meeting his new partner.

Jäger fills the spot of former and beloved K-9 Deputy Sheriff, 3-year-old Lucy, a Belgium Malinois whose remains were found last June beside a railroad track after escaping from her kennel. Though Shope is pleased with his new partner, he advised, “Jäger has some big paws to fill”, referring to his deceased partner K-9 Deputy Sheriff Lucy.

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Unconstitutional, vaguely written statutes. Charges that are not part of the original presentments.

Those are the arguments given for the latest motion in the case of Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson that could potentially dismiss the 12 counts against him concerning altered, forged or falsified vehicle titles.

The motion was filed last Thursday.

The 12 counts were returned by a Bradley County grand jury in September, as a corrective measure to the original six counts which had been returned a few months earlier.

Those counts are considered to be “presentments” instead of “indictments” since the grand jury elected to levy those charges of their own accord.

The trial had been scheduled to begin Nov. 27, but Special Judge Don Ash, in response to the latest motion, wants to further examine the constitutional arguments filed by Watson’s attorney, James Logan.

That means instead of a trial beginning on that date, Ash will hold a special hearing on the constitutionality of the charges. Should the judge find in favor of the argument, it would in essence cause the charges to be dismissed due to the vagueness of the statute under which Watson was charged.

Logan argues there is a constitutional issue as to whether there is any way Watson or anyone else could have known if or how they had broken the law because of the way Tennessee’s statutes are written.

That will be the focus of the special hearing.

Also from The Banner…

In the wake of the tragic Nov. 5 shootings that left 26 parishioners dead in the First Baptist Church in rural Sutherland Springs, Texas, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up its continuing focus on community safety, with an event scheduled Thursday.

As part of this initiative, BCSO has developed training materials that will help faith-based and civic organizations create security plans to keep residents safe, according to Sheriff Eric Watson.

BCSO has continuously developed materials over the years for all churches in the area to use for training that will teach churches’ staffs and members how to attempt to prevent critical incidents, and how to react if a critical incident occurs during a gathering.

Topics discussed in the training materials include conducting a security-risk assessment; developing a place of worship security plan; what to do during the critical incident; what to do immediately after the critical incident; the need to provide crisis intervention stress management afterward; hands-on defense training; and simulating weapon defense.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, at 6:30 p.m., training materials will be distributed to all interested pastors and/or their representatives, in addition to any civic organization leaders who attend the meeting. The session will be held at the BCSO offices on Blythe Avenue.

For more information, contact Communications Director James Bradford at 423-728-7320 or jbradford@bradleycountytn.gov.

This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com, powered by Pioneer Credit. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.