The Marion County Sheriff’s Department reports several arrests after three days of sex offender compliance checks across the county in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals’ Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement agencies. Over the course of three days this week officers conducted compliance checks leading to 9 …
On July 29th, at the request of 12th Judicial District Attorney General Courtney Lynch, TBI agents began investigating allegations of misconduct involving a Jasper police officer. During the investigation, agents learned that on July 26th, Lillian Michele Lockhart (DOB: 9/12/95) reported for duty intoxicated. Further investigation revealed that while intoxicated, Lockhart responded to calls for …
As communities in Northeast Tennessee continue to experience significant impacts from Hurricane Helene, Governor Bill Lee provided another update on the State of Tennessee’s ongoing multi-agency response. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Actions An expedited Major Disaster Declaration has been granted for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington. Damage assessments remain in …
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has established a hotline to coordinate reports of missing persons in the areas affected by the recent severe flooding impacting parts of East Tennessee. Those wishing to report missing individuals believed to be in the affected areas across East Tennessee may contact 1-800-TBI-FIND. Callers should be prepared to relay as …
A Sequatchie County constable and his wife have been indicted on child abuse and neglect charges. The indictment says County Constable Justin and his wife, Tonya Higgenbottom, face 2 counts of child abuse and neglect and 1 count of false imprisonment. Justin Higgenbottom was also indicted on an official misconduct charge. The indictment says they ‘confined’ …
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Cyber Alert on Tuesday after receiving an uptick in sextortion scams. The scammer threatens to send compromising footage and pictures to loved ones unless you send them money through Bitcoin. TBI says the scam is very convincing because the email can include personal details, such as your full …
An undercover operation by special agents with the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the 12th Judicial District Drug Task Force resulted in arrests, with two individuals accepting treatment. Over a two-day period starting August 7th, as part of an undercover operation aimed at addressing human trafficking in the East Tennessee area, …
Special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, working alongside the 12th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Soddy Daisy Police Department, and the Dayton Police Department, have arrested and charged a man in connection with a 2020 homicide. On August 10, 2020, at the …
On Monday morning an apparent murder-suicide took place inside NHC Healthcare Sequatchie. Dunlap Police Chief Randy Phillips says one of the victims was a resident at the nursing home, she was shot by her husband, who then turned the gun on himself. The TBI and the 12th District Attorney General’s office are now investigating the …
The former police chief of the Chattanooga Police Department, Celeste Murphy, is facing a 17-count indictment for felony and misdemeanor criminal charges following an investigation by special agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. At the request of District Attorney General Pro Tem D. Michael Dunavant, TBI agents began investigating the residency of Celeste Murphy …
