Proactive work by patrol deputies resulted in the arrest of suspects in the theft of a vehicle from a church on the west side of the county while the owner was attending services.  

David Williams reported his 2002 Ford Explorer Sport stolen to the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office after discovering it was missing from Elkmont Baptist Church on Old Freewill Road. Williams had left his key and an iPhone in the vehicle.   

Within a short time deputies managed to trace the phone to the area of Humberd Road that is some distance from where the theft occurred.  Their information showed the vehicle to be moving.   Other deputies helping in the search located the Explorer at a home on Keith Valley Road.   

Three people were detained, Travis Grissom, 20, no address given, Jack D. Murphy III, 20, of southeast 20th Street, and Sebastian Howard, 18, of Mohawk Court. 

The vehicle and the iPhone that was recovered from a field on Humberd Road have been returned to Williams.  

Additional investigation revealed another vehicle that was parked at the church had been entered.  The owner of that vehicle reported seven dollars in cash was taken. 

The suspects were brought to the Bradley County jail where each was charged with theft over $1,000, burglary of an auto, and theft under $500.  Bond is set at $12,000 each.

Travis Grissom

Jack Murphy III

Sebastian Howard

By:  Sheriff Jim Ruth

To acquaint readers with their Sheriff’s Office I have written about our deputies and cited contributions they make to our team and community.

This week I want to tell of our chief deputy, Wayne Bird. Wayne and his wife, Colleen, both do volunteer work at Cross Point Church (formerly Mount Olive East). Wayne helps prepare and serve food each week in the church’s "Loaves and Fishes" program that feeds about 150 people each week. Colleen, who is a registered nurse, volunteers each week at the church’s free medical clinic. Wayne and Colleen have a daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren.

Investigators for the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office are continuing an investigation into the wounding of a woman at the KOA Campground Sunday night. 

Della Marie Floyd of Chattanooga was transported to Erlanger Medical Center after she and  Charles Drew Warren struggled over a handgun during an argument. The weapon fired, striking Floyd in the upper left chest. Floyd has since been dismissed from the hospital.  

Warren, 44, who gave his address as Pleasant Grove Road, was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated domestic assault.  He was released today on a $20,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday. 

Charles Drew Warren

The driver of an SUV critically injured December 5 in a collision with a county school bus on North Lee Highway died from his injuries yesterday.  

An ongoing investigation by the Traffic Unit of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office shows a southbound Ford Explorer driven by 34-year-old Jeremy H. Anderson of Charleston crossed into the opposite lane and collided with the bus. The SUV left the road and rolled over, ejecting Anderson. 

He died Tuesday at Erlanger Medical Center. 

The bus driver and a 14-year-old passenger sustained less serious injuries.