The Traffic Unit of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is continuing an investigation of a head-on crash Sunday night on Dalton Pike (State Highway 60) at Lynn Drive.

The crash involved a northbound Ford Explorer driven by Steven Voyles, 43, of Blackburn Road and a southbound Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Abigail Ferguson, 41, of Danview Street.

Passengers in the Tahoe, Rebecca Ferguson, 8, and Benjamin Ferguson, 12, were also injured. All involved were transported to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga by three medical helicopters and were admitted.

A 9-1-1 call Friday of a burglary-in-progress at 210 Wild Oak Road SE resulted in the arrest of a suspect by Bradley County Sheriff’s deputies. The caller gave personnel in the communications center a description of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving.

School Resource Officer Nathan Headrick at Valley View Elementary School heard the call and responded. On Keith Valley Road he spotted a vehicle fitting the description and followed it into a driveway in the 800 block.

The suspect, Mitchell Lee Cross, 30, of Etowah, was taken into custody without incident.

The witness reported seeing several items carried out of the residence. The loss included three guns, a tool set and CD player valued at $1,345. A full recovery was made.

The Criminal Investigations Division took over the investigation. Cross is charged with aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000, driving on a suspended license, simple possession of schedule II, possession of schedule VI, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

DARE graduation was held recently at Valley View Elementary School following 10-weeks of classroom instruction by School Resource Officer Tim Mason. At the conclusion, each student submitted an essay on what they learned. The students who wrote the best essays were presented their awards at a graduation ceremony. Pictured are: Principal Sherrie Ledford; Ashley Ridgeway; Sheriff Tim Gobble, guest speaker at the graduation; Caitlyn Stanley; and Deputy Mason.

Another year has come and gone, and I find myself 15 months into my first term as Bradley County Sheriff. The year of 2007 was a whirlwind of activity here at the BCSO, highlighted by a reduced aggravated burglary rate, increased street patrols, reduced response time, better management of available resources, clearing more outstanding warrants, developing national accreditation standards, housing Polk County inmates, reinstating the inmate work program, encouraging cooperative efforts with the community, and, of course, my attempt to secure adequate funding through the courts to close a documented pay gap and replace dangerous, high-mileage vehicles.

All these things were done with the intent to better serve a fast-growing population that is closing in on the 100,000 mark, and I am proud of the support the BCSO has received from the citizens of this county. I am also proud of the men and women who continue to place their safety on the line each day to help ensure the security of this community.
 
In my next two columns I will share with you some of the accomplishments the BCSO has achieved during 2007.