Hit and run leads to drug charge

Hit and run leads to drug charges

After being dispatched to a hit and run accident Sunday in Lenoir City, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Keith Swinney arrested a Lenoir City woman on various charges.

Tracy Hope Walter-Hensley, 55, was followed by the victim of the hit and run until Swinney stopped her on Highway 444 at the Saddle Dam boat ramp. Swinney detained Walter-Hensley until a Lenoir City police officer arrived.

“After I told her that we were waiting, she became upset and told me that she was a home health nurse and was trying to get to her patient in Tellico Village,” Swinney wrote in the report. “She then placed that vehicle in drive and started to pull away while I was at her window talking to her. I advised that she needed to put the vehicle in park and stay put.”

Swinney reported to dispatch that Walter-Hensley drove away and Swinney followed her. She “exceeded the speed limit” and passed another vehicle during the pursuit.

“She finally stopped the vehicle and was taken into custody at Elm Street and Bussell Ferry Road,” Swinney wrote in a report. “While searching her vehicle, a Bersa pistol was located in her purse and a glass pipe, which is commonly used for smoking meth, containing residue in a black bag was found in her passenger seat.”

Dispatch confirmed her driver’s license was suspended and the vehicle was uninsured. After searching the rest of her belongings, deputies found a “vape pen and two cartridges of 90.99% THC.”

Walter-Hensley was charged with felony evading in a vehicle, possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession/casual exchange and driving on a revoked/suspended license and held on $10,500 bond.

Intoxicated woman found walking in road

LCSO Deputy Ben Everett found Brandi Brooke Manuel, 37, Loudon, after being dispatched to a possible public intoxication Thursday morning.

Everett reported Manuel was walking “almost in the middle of the road” while carrying several bags. Everett said Manuel was “sweating profusely and seemed very upset.”

“Ms. Manuel stated to me that (a man) told her to leave the house and don’t come back,” Everett wrote in a report. “She also stated that he had (threatened) her with a stick. To my knowledge, Ms. Manuel seemed to be under some sort of narcotic considering her large amount of sweat coming from her, and failure to follow directions.”

LCSO Cpl. Brian Smith spoke with the man who said Manuel left the house during the night and came back early that morning. He said Manuel “was talking out of her head and was speaking to her husband who was not there,” and that Manuel said she “rules the roost at (the man’s home)” to someone on the phone, Everett wrote in a report.

The man confronted Manuel and an argument ensued. He told Manuel to leave the house and she would not comply. He was in fear for his life and grabbed a stick for protection before going upstairs to get a gun. Manuel gathered some bags and left the house on foot.

Manuel was charged with domestic assault-misdemeanor and released on $1,000 bond.

March 23

• Roy Austin Oller, 23, Loudon, was charged with domestic assault-misdemeanor and released on $1,000 bond.

March 24

• Holly A. Cook, 34, Philadelphia, was charged with aggravated criminal trespass and released on $1,000 bond.

• Courtney Ann Littleton, 35, Lenoir City, was charged with domestic assault-misdemeanor and released on $1,000 bond.

March 26

• Brandon Raekwon Battle, 20, Harriman, was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000 and released on $65,000 bond.

• Martha June Mills, 34, Lenoir City, was charged with violation of probation and held on $15,000 bond.

• Dustin Ray Shirk, 33, Lenoir City, was charged with criminal trespass and public intoxication and held on $2,000 bond.

March 28

• Ronald Thomas Earley, 55, Sarasota, Fla., was charged with driving under the influence and released on $3,000 bond.