HYATT CHARGED IN THEFT OF MOWER AND TRAILER

An investigation by Bradley County Sheriff’s detectives into the June theft of a trailer and riding mower from Beck Street has led to the arrest of Jody Lee Hyatt.

Eyewitness identified Hyatt as the person they saw driving away with the trailer when Deputy Chris Corte-Real conducted an investigation of the theft.  On the trailer was an orange Simplicity riding mower.

The 29-year-old Hyatt, of Harpo Street , is charged with Theft over $500.  He was released on Tuesday from the Bradley County jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

The owner of the stolen property listed her loss at $600.

Bradley County Sheriff’s deputies are holding Steven Allen Eyre for Wood County Ohio authorities where he has warrants for two counts of assault and one count of failure to appear.

Eyre is currently being held in the Bradley County jail. He was arrested Friday by Deputy Kristi Barton on the Ohio fugitive warrant and a Bradley County charge of misdemeanor probation violation.

The 40-year-old Eyre, of Eureka Road in Charleston, is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in General Sessions Court on Tuesday.

Child Restraints and Safety Belts  - Ingredients for Safe Motoring

Whether you’re traveling across the country or across town, the operator of a motor vehicle bears responsibility for their own safety and the safety of any passengers.

As Sheriff, I encourage you to operate your vehicle in a safe manner, don’t get behind the wheel if you are impaired, avoid distractions such as adjusting the radio, obey the speed limit and keep your vehicle under control at all times.

You should also buckle up every time you are in a vehicle and make sure child passengers are properly restrained.  A major concern during the past few years has been the issue of child passengers and air bag safety.  Air bags save lives.   But they work best when everyone is buckled and when children age 12 and under are properly restrained in the back seat. An infant riding in a rear-facing child seat must never be placed in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger side air bag.  The message is clear; “Everyone buckled: Kids in back.”

Motor vehicle injury is the leading killer of children more than one year of age. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child safety seats, when used correctly, can reduce fatalities among young children less than five years of age by 71 percent  -one of the most effective safety innovations ever developed.

Children must rely on their parents to use safety seats correctly  - infant, toddler/convertible, or booster seat.  NHTSA recommends that all children ride in the back seat  -using rear-facing seats until a child is 20 pounds and one year old, forward-facing over one-year old and 20 pounds up to 40 pounds, and booster seats until the child can use the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belts. Parents need to read the information provided in their vehicle owner’s manual regarding child safety seat placement in the vehicle along with the proper use instructions provided with the child safety seat.

The primary points of Tennessee’s law are:

• Any child under the age of 1 year old and 20 pounds or less must be in a rear-facing child restraint IN THE REAR SEAT, if available.
• Any child from 1 through 3 years old weighing more than 20 pounds should be transported in a forward facing child restraint seat IN THE REAR SEAT, if available.
• Any child 4 – 8 years old measuring less than five feet in height must be in a belt positioning booster seat IN THE REAR SEAT, if available.
• Any child 9 – 12 years old measuring 4 feet 9 inches or more in height must use a seat belt and THE REAR SEAT is recommended.
• Any child 13 to 17 years old must use a seat belt and may sit in the front or rear of the vehicle.

It should also be noted the driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring passengers under the age of 16 are properly restrained.  Violators can be fined up to $50.   If the child’s parent or legal guardian is present but not driving, they are responsible for making sure that the child is properly transported and may be fined for non-compliance.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories have laws requiring the use of child safety seats. While penalties vary from state to state, violators can face fines, points on their driving record, or more serious charges.

Getting your older kids into the habit of buckling up will teach them a safety practice that can save lives. It will be much easier if you set the example. Make your concern for passenger safety known by insisting that everyone -even adult passengers- buckle up.

It’s the safe way to go!

SEXUAL OFFENDER LAW EXPANDS TO INCLUDE ALL OFFENDERS

One provision expands reporting requirements to any resident of the state with a prior sex crime conviction.

Previously only persons who were incarcerated, on probation or on parole after January 1, 1995 were required to register.  The new law requires any person who has committed a sex crime, no matter when it occurred, to register before August 1 with their local law enforcement agency.

Detective Angie Whittemore, who registers sex offenders at the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, said it is important for people who have been added to the registry to comply with the law as soon as possible.

“The law has changed to include any person living in Tennessee who has been convicted of a sex-related crime. They are required to register with law enforcement no later than August 1st so they can be placed on the sexual offender registry,” Whittemore said.

The new requirement includes individuals who now live in Tennessee but were convicted of a sex-crime in another state.   

Persons who have their residence in the city of Cleveland can register at the Cleveland Police Department .  Those outside the city should contact Detective Whittemore at the Sheriff’s Office.

“Anyone who has a question about whether a conviction is covered by the law can contact me for clarification,” Whittemore said.  She can be reached at 728-7336 and adds, “Those who need to register should call to make an appointment.”

Another key change the legislature made is moving the names of individuals that have been available only to law enforcement to the public website hosted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation .   

With the addition of these people there are now approximately 173 Bradley County residents listed on the registry.