Press release - April 19,2011 

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office responded to Leatha Lane NW in Northern Bradley County at 20:45hrs to a report of shots fired at a residence. When Deputies arrived they located two deceased individuals. At this time Detectives are processing the scene and are aggressively looking for Aaron Dean Lawson W/M 32 years of age, with brown eyes and red hair. He is 5’10” and 210lbs. He was last seen driving a 1997 Maroon or Red Ford Explorer. He is to be considered armed and dangerous and has active warrants for 2 counts of First Degree Murder. If anyone has information or has seen him please call the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office at 423-728-7272.

Aaron Lawson

UPDATE:
Sheriff Ruth will conduct a press conference at one o'clock today (Apr 20) at the sheriff's office to update the media on last night's double homicide.

UPDATE - 6 pm 4-20-11
Aaron Dean Lawson was arrested this afternoon by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office at a business located on Highway 58.  The Meigs County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip earlier today that Lawson, who was being sought on two First Degree Murder warrants, could be found at the business.  After placing the building under observation, Hamilton County deputies were able to confirm Lawson's presence and he was taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff Jim Ruth's column...

Here at the Sheriff’s Office, I run the heartbreak hotel.

There is no want for business, as we usually have a full house. Not many noble, not many brave and not many righteous people stay there.

Room service is sporadic and the food up until recently was bland with some exceptions. Now with a new company providing the meals it is much better. The hotel is clean and the temperature is comfortable, but I doubt you would like it much.

Had those mentioned above been noble or righteous, they would not have stolen, robbed, looted, vandalized or otherwise dealt in illegal activity. Were they brave, they would not have used a weapon or superior size and strength to victimize another. Had they been righteous they would not continue to try to cover up their crimes.

I have met all kinds over the years during my career. Some were almost sub-human in their depravity; sadistic murderers, rapists, child abusers and other sorry examples of mankind. One thing has stood out with each one of them; they had the advantage every time they acted out their cowardly behavior.

The jail is almost overrun with people who are addicted to drugs. They would sell their souls for another hit, another high. Then, of course, we have the marketers of these drugs in jail, as well. Some are awaiting trial, while others are awaiting their trip to the "Big House."

We have had a number of con men housed in the Bradley County Jail over the years, as well. They do very well in verbally dispensing bovine excrement (to put it in the original Greek).

Smilin Jack was one such fellow that was with us for a long while.

Ol’ Smilin Jack had a toothy smile like Jimmy Carter and he was always agreeable. He became a trusted trustee and did very good work. Being such a good worker, he was granted privileges, because he had earned that status.

Eventually, Smilin Jack served out his sentence here at our jail. Now, he was partial to new Ford cars. He would test drive one and never bring it back to the car lot. That was why he was in jail in the first place.

All that is just part of the story; he, also, fancied himself as a ladies man. While a guest of the county, he charmed at least two ladies who would visit him and bring dainties for his discriminating palette.

Upon completion of paying his debt to the state of Tennessee, he was supposed to be married to a, fair-haired, lass. When that day came Ol’ Smilin Jack borrowed the her vehicle and left, before the marriage ceremony, for parts unknown. (True story; just left out the names to protect the guilty.)

Is there a moral to this story? Is it, "Once a car thief always a car thief?" Or, maybe, "Love is blind?" Or like Sarah Vaughn sang, "Broken Hearted Melody."

Even with our many efforts to rehabilitate, only to be disappointed, I am still hopeful that we will be successful in stopping the revolving jail door. We have some good people who minister to the inmates regularly. There are, also, programs that lead to self-improvement. All this has caused some to turn their lives around.

Some folks question the validity of "jailhouse religion."

Yet, there are some outstanding examples of people’s lives turned completely around. Famous singer Johnny Cash wrote of the influence a country sheriff had in getting him back on the straight and narrow.

Another story is of Buddy, who was incarcerated off and on for most of his 50 years. His last sentence was for 15 years for a drunken assault on another party-goer.

Buddy was bonded out on appeal.

While out on appeal Buddy went to a little church revival and made a commitment that lasted, even after his appeal was denied and he had served out his sentence.

There are many such success stories. I know people here whose lives have reversed course. They have gone on to become good citizens, and good mothers and fathers. We at the Sheriff’s Office will continue to be hopeful, as we work to turn lives around.

Many people who are arrested for driving under the influence learn a valuable lesson, never to do it again.

The price of that lesson is very high.

That DUI conviction will haunt them the rest of their lives. They can pay the fines and costs, and serve the required jail time; family and friends can forgive, but the blot on an otherwise clean record will follow them to the grave.

Very sobering, isn’t it?

As always, thanks to you for reading these columns and for your comments.

Sheriff Jim Ruth (standing left) and Circuit Court Judge Amy Reedy (standing right) with criminal justice students at Cleveland High School during a visit at the Judicial Center.   The two officials answered questions after the group toured the sheriff's administrative offices, the jail, and courts area.

Class 1 Graduates of In 2 Work Skills for a Future hold their diplomas after completing the intensive program on kitchen basics. Pictured above, front row L-R, Cindy Fain, Kelli Johnson, Tammy Pope and Angela Halsey. Back row Julie Headrick, Connie Nelson, and James Summers, District Manager for Aramark.

They are the first to complete the intensive In 2 Work Skills for a Future program since Aramark was selected to operate the jail's kitchen several months ago. Aramark provides supervision of food service assisted by female inmates who assist in preparation of meals for other people housed in thefacility.

To mark completion of the six-member Class 1, a graduation ceremony was conducted during which each received a certificate. It is hoped this training will help them to find fulltime employment following their release. 

Some of the topics covered include:

• Proper hygiene
• Safe use of equipment
• Sanitation
• Food Safety
• Food retail marketing
• Customer service
• Food Safety Standards
• Basics of a robust food safety system and implementation
• Proper procedures in purchasing, storing, receiving, preparing, cooking, holding, serving, cooling and reheating food safely, and
• Cleaning and sanitizing.

James Summers, District Manager for Aramark, taught the class.  Plans are beginning for Class 2 in the near future.