The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of Scottie Lee Higgins.

Property Crimes detectives have an active warrant charging Higgins with theft over $1,000. It was issued after he became a suspect in an investigation involving the recent thefts of batteries from businesses and heavy-duty construction equipment.

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and other nearby law enforcement agencies have ongoing investigations of thefts involving numerous vehicle batteries.

Higgins is 19 years old, 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. He is further described as having a medium build, brown hair, and brown eyes.

He is believed to be staying in the Birchwood community of Meigs County.

Any information about Higgins should be directed to the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office by calling 423-728-7336, the nearest law enforcement agency, or calling 9-1-1.

The reward will be determined by the level of assistance that is given in locating and arresting the suspect.

Scottie Lee Higgins

David Keith Daugherty

The murder investigation of 40-year-old Elizabeth Annette Carney reached Bradley County Criminal Court Monday where her husband, David Keith Daugherty, pled guilty to murder.

Family members and friends alerted the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office on July 12, 2011 after making repeated attempts to contact her. Deputies initially were dispatched on a missing person call to 1235 northeast 6th Street, but before arriving a second 9-1-1 call was made to report Carney’s body had been found.

Daugherty was arrested in Bryson City North Carolina just over 24 hours later.

Detectives issued a first degree murder warrant in Bradley County and Daugherty waived extradition to return to Tennessee.

In criminal court Monday he pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced by Judge Carroll Ross to life in prison. Now 42 years old, Daugherty is eligible for parole in 51 years.

His case was scheduled for trial on Tuesday.

An autopsy ruled Carney’s death was due to strangulation.

Lt. Bob Hancock displays the new sticker.

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has available blue and gray stickers for display on homes that have signed on with the Neighborhood Watch program.

In bold blue lettering they warn, "This is a neighborhood watch home. Your suspicious activity has already been observed and 9-1-1 has been notified."

The stickers act a deterrent to crime when placed near an entrance or in a conspicuous place on the home.

One of the foundations of the national watch program encourages active involvement in a participating community which helps to become better acquainted with others and their routines. The program is in thousands of communities nationwide and boasts a proven record of success of deterring crime and catching criminals in the act.

The sheriff’s office currently has active groups in over 40 neighborhoods with hundreds of active participants.

With the help of Lt. Bob Hancock, Neighborhood Watch coordinator for the BCSO, participants receive useful information on ways they can make their homes safer so they are a less attractive target of burglars. Many are inexpensive such as trimming or removing shrubbery around entrances to the home.

To get started a member of the community will be needed to sample whether sufficient interest exists and to plan the organizational meeting if the neighborhood is ready to begin.

Organizational meetings include other ways of preventing crime and a visual tour of the Sheriff’s Office.

Lt. Hancock is accepting new areas of the city and county for the watch program. If you would like more information about becoming a crime prevention partner with the BCSO contact him at 728-7321.

Sgt. Andy Smith of the BCSO Traffic Unit checks seat belt usage as vehicles enter the Walker Valley High School campus.

Ruth stated a desire to reduce the loss of life on Bradley County roads in an announcement last October that launched the traffic safety initiative. Included in the plan was increasing the number of traffic stops by uniformed deputies to remind motorists of their mistakes that can result in serious vehicle crashes. Ruth instructed deputies to write citations when necessary.

Sheriff Ruth said we are trying to get everyone "to slow down, take your time, and arrive alive." One aspect of the campaign is getting everyone to buckle up, "because seat belts save lives."

This week the traffic unit monitored seat belt compliance at Bradley Central High School and Walker Valley High School. Those observed unbuckled were reminded they are required to wear a seat belt any time the vehicle is in motion.

State law sets the fine for the initial conviction at $10 but that doubles to $20 for the second and each subsequent violation. In addition, court costs may be involved.

Seat belt violations are a primary offense which allows law enforcement to stop a vehicle upon observing a violation.

Motorists are also reminded to watch their speed in school zones during times of the day when students are either arriving for class or leaving in the afternoon to return home.

School buses loading or unloading passengers will display flashing red lights and an extended stop sign for vehicles approaching from both directions. Passing them when the stop sign is displayed is dangerous and has the possibility of serious injury for a student.  Fines for these violations can be substancial.

The sheriff said, "We are serious about saving lives. Our goal is to increase awareness in the motoring public that violations of traffic laws, such as speeding, reckless driving, aggressive driving or not wearing a seat belt, are factors that can result in the loss of life. We want everyone to think about safety when they get behind the wheel."

There have been 13 lives lost this year on Bradley County roads