Almost a Tragedy: Gas Station Roof Collapse Linked to Incompetence and Cost-Cutting

Update 12/14/2016: the 'debris' of the roof canopy collapse was removed and business is back to normal. 

The "culprit" behind the original installation of the gas pumps and roof canopy has been identified as Danny Baker of Baker Oil Company in Lenoir City, TN--during a phone interview, they admitted to hiring and paying a sub-contractor to do  the work.

The cause of many construction disasters is often negligence, incompetence, and the total disregard for public safety... in this mishap there are two obvious clues: In nearby Athens TN where EF-2 winds wreaked havoc, many buildings next to or near gas pumps were destroyed, but none of the gas station canopies collapsed--in this roof collapse, there is no visible damage to the building--only the single post holding the canopy above the gas pumps failed.
Pastor Williams recently bought the business from Gary Davis, who owned the building since it was built back in 2001.
The heavy steel-frame canopy was attached by a single steel post, which sheared off it's ground level tack-weld mount--on 11/28/2016.

Moscow on the Nantahala

Foreign agents could be, and most likely have been scouting rural routes to and from large urban areas. According to the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, there are over 100 Russian spies operating in the U.S.

The road shown in the video is not just secluded, it's 'beyond secluded'--some residents who have lived in the area over 20 years have never driven past the 'no outlet' sign.

An elderly gentleman who lives about ten miles from the nearest paved road said foreign diplomats were recently spotted wandering in the area, supposedly looking for a short-cut through the woods...go figure.

When you consider that over half of all foreign diplomats also serve as 'intelligence gatherers' or 'spies', it's a reasonable cause for concern. 
The 'no outlet' sign at the entrance of this rural road is merely to discourage traffic: there are two (logging trail) routes available to continue back to urban areas--used mainly by hikers and off-road vehicles.

The operators the local resident refers to that he encountered, may have had prior mapping and knowledge of the area, and understood the value of a secluded area for meetings, dead-drops, and cell-phone towers' inability to 'ping' the location of cell phones...if one assumes that, oh!...no way it's not possible--that's exactly the mindset that potential foreign adversaries would like you to have.

Former MCSD deputy Eddie "hands" Manning fails to sway jurors

Former MCSD's "Predator with a Badge" was "fired" by the new Administration, caught on video planting evidence

U.S.Federal Court 9/23/2016--jury rules in favor of 2 former MCSD deputies who were fired by the new administration.

In the federal job discrimination lawsuit filed last year (2015), by three former MCSD deputies, Manning was the only one who received "0" compensation--Doug Brannon was awarded 50K, and "Crowbar" Miller just under 7K.

Doug Brannon, along with his former partner James Patrick Henry, made national headlines in the Dawson vs Monroe County Sheriff lawsuit--see the U.S. District Court in Knoxville Case 3:13­cv­00240--Judge James Curwood Witt had earlier described their actions as "egregious, illegal, and abhorrent." 

The last *contact I had with former deputy Manning was in mid-summer 2014, during a visit to the Coker Creek Davis Store, (now called Williams Mountain Market). 

After pumping gas and entering the store, I noticed a lively round-table discussion in the dining area--it centered around who was going to win the 2014 Sheriff's race, Randy White or incumbent Sheriff Bill Bivens.

My prediction, which was meant to be clearly heard, was that "Randy White was going to Win." There was a MCSD Sheriff's deputy present who heard this--the nameplate on his shirt was,  E Manning. 

Soon after getting back on the road,  the Sheriff's Dept. SUV which had been parked outside the store was now just inches from the rear of my vehicle. For the next 4 miles, the SUV kept "riding" my rear bumper.  The "slow chase" continued until I turned into my driveway.  Needless to say, this is a tactic which is often used as a "road rage" ploy, and can lead to a serious and dangerous situation.

* Former chief deputy Bryan Graves had been advised of at least one other similar incident. A call placed to Graves on 8/26/2013 alerted him to an incident which had a carbon-copy type M.O. (modus operandi)--which started in Tellico Plains, and lasted for 8 miles.

If "hands" Manning would chase a motorist for merely exercising their first amendment right of  (free-speech, voicing an opinion), and was fired in-part for planting evidence,  it's possible that he was 'at times' acting in violation under "color of law" while employed by the MCSD. 

Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

The new Jones/White administration should take a firm stand against police officer misconduct--posing as fake attorneys, planting evidence,  selling schedule  class III narcotics,  use of a firearm during the commission of a felony,  civil rights violations,  and other by-gone era tactics should be strictly prohibited.

by MP

Drug Trafficking is the Most Virulent Form of Domestic Terrorism

How the Sheriff in a nearby county became the number 1 drug-kingpin, money launderer, drug-addict, and embezzler of public funds

Prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in America.  Few places have been hit harder than Tennessee and Kentucky--both are states that have been ravaged by addiction to meth-amphetamine, oxycodone, and prescription pain-pills.

Case-in-point, Whitley County, Kentucky: a place where the similarities to Monroe County, TN are an almost daily reminder posted in the local tabloid--in which over half of the daily content covers drug-busts, scams, and disintegration of the social fabric--directly related to aberrant lifestyles…

former sheriff Lawrence Hodge

In Whitley County, matters were made worse when the man suspected of being at the center of the drug trade was the county's top law enforcement officer, Sheriff Lawrence Hodge—who by all accounts had become “un-touchable”… 

Both the FBI and the state police had tried building a case, but Hodge had become very insulated,  and they couldn't penetrate his inner circle of drug-dealers, crooked attorneys and politicians...there was fear of what Hodge might do if anyone co-operated with federal authorities or the state police.

Hodge had been elected with the promise he would 'clean things up' – but early in his tenure there were rumors that “the Sheriff had gone bad.”  ATF special agent Todd E. Tremaine recalls that Hodge began taking pay-offs from drug-dealers and extorting money from defendants. He also developed a serious drug habit.  Authorities were able to bring charges against Hodge from an undercover investigation by two reporters from the local newspaper, who suspected Hodge may have an incriminating "paper trail," which led them to the sheriff's office evidence log.

Hodge was finally snared by the long arm of the law, click on video, "When Cops Go Bad" --he eventually pleaded guilty in federal court to extortion, distributing drugs, and money laundering—he was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison...and in 2013, state charges added another 17 years which included multiple counts of abuse of the public trust and 3 counts of tampering with evidence.

Hodge will be eligible for parole on November 8, 2024

Former Isbell Crony/Reserve Deputy Caught on Dash-Cam

Seen while parked at the bottom entrance of a private drive, as if he was 'lying in wait'--on the afternoon of 6/24/2016--(TN tag E-54498)... A Sheriff's cap was also visible hanging on the headrest of the passenger seat. The former Isbell/Era MCSD reserve deputy in question, Don Charest, fled after he was spotted...

Although he was never a "career" police officer, he had previously served as a reserve officer with the Tellico Plains Police Dept., under the disgraced chief of police Bill Isbell-- Charest and Isbell were 'booted' from any association with the TPPD--Former Mayor Roger Powers felt a lack of trust amid those in charge, and was forced to 'clean house'--this later involved an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.

Charest was again able to 'don' (no pun intended), a reserve officer badge 4 years after the Isbell era ended; when he was able to 'worm his way' into the good graces of the newly appointed Sheriff, Tommy "Whitey" Jones.

Fallen MCSD K-9 Vigor: was he needlessly put in harm's way?

Failure to call off the night-time search comprised the safety of all involved

The recent tragic death of police canine “Vigor” while on duty, chasing a local wanted fugitive raises serious leadership concerns. 

Vigor, along with his partner/handler Sgt. (BJ) Bill Johnson, had dealt with hundreds if not thousands of incidents, in Monroe County and in Iraq, that put them both in extreme life-threatening situations. It's ironic that Vigor died chasing a low-level thug/repeat offender, who could have been captured using the same (deception tactics/diversion), used to capture John Irons. 

BJ and Vigor performed traffic stops as part of their day-to-day operations—traffic stops rank among one of the most dangerous duties in a police officer's job description...
In the (I-75) corridor (used by drug-traffickers, human traffickers, and possible international terrorists), the MCSD drug-interdiction task force faces a much more 'elite and dangerous' type of criminal than the unsophisticated/local hoodlum (Doug Ellis) being chased during the (night-time in the woods) man-hunt, which led to Vigor's death by drowning in the Tellico River.

Guns & Badges Scandal: How Bivens' Supporters Seized Upon A 'Guilt by Association'

'In-cahoots' with a former Isbell 'crony' may be the worst decision Sheriff Tommy "Whitey" Jones ever made--"We are judged by the company we keep"

POST A SIGN-GET A BADGE

It's as if the lines had become blurred--was the SDS gun store part of the the Monroe County Sheriff's Dept, did SDS take advantage of Sheriff Tommy Jones' lack of experience? One senior law enforcement official said that "Yes, they did take advantage of his inexperience." 

Tommy Jones deals with the first major scandal since he was appointed as Sheriff--a call to TV 6 and 8 in Knoxville exposed what some saw coming over a year ago. Self Defense Solutions appeared to make appointed Sheriff Tommy Jones their own "special darling"... 
Selling a large number of firearms from the evidence room to a business owned by a former Isbell crony raised questions of illegal or unethical transactions...exactly how close were the sheriff's ties to the gun store?...Sheriff Jones was quoted as saying  "We're not in the storage business."  That is one of the most 'absurd' public comments you will ever hear from the head of a law enforcement agency. See http://www.iape.org/  which offers classes, manuals, and guides or PTAC...

DON G. CHAREST

...When interim Sheriff Tommy Jones was appointed as  Sheriff by the board of commissioners on 12/9/2014--the Madisonville, TN gun store owners of Self-Defense Solutions immediately went on a "charm offensive" showering him with congratulatory 'high fives', and posting a "Congrats Tommy" sign on Hwy 411--Tommy soon developed a close relationship with Don Charest, part-owner of the store, who was again handed a reserve-officer badge, just like in the Tellico Plains-Bill Isbell days.

An appearance of impropriety: former police chief Bill Isbell and the former head of the civilian Tellico Plains police force, (Don Charest), had been terminated at the same time by Mayor Roger Powers--former Mayor Powers was faced with a 'failure of trust issue' with Isbell and Charest, which later involved an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, over missing money from police fundraisers, guns, and drugs.

News 8 reporters asked co-owner of Self Defense Solutions store Ray Kough, if this was the first time they bought guns from the Sheriff: watch video and see if you think he answered truthfully.

A former Sheriff in Westmoreland County was charged with giving pay to play police badges to political cronies in ex-change for political contributions--one of the people who received a reserve officer badge, showed it to a state trooper after being pulled over for speeding--the state trooper added a charge of impersonating a deputy sheriff.

Forensic Linguistics plays important role in solving TN 'FaceBook Murders'

Judge John Kerry Blackwood, who has tried high profile cases throughout Tennessee, called this case the most bizarre thing that he has seen in his career as a judge. During the Christian-Newsom case, Judge Blackwood publicly scolded D A Randy Nichols, see DA Nichols gets an 'ass chewing' from Judge Blackwood.

What started as a feud in social media by local Mountain City TN residents, resulted in the brutal slaying of a married couple, and lengthy prison sentences for four others.
An elaborate scheme of deception was uncovered through careful examination of the family's computer, phone messages, and texts.

Authorities were able to show that a fake profile on social media, described as a 'Chris' was actually Jenelle Potter, the daughter of Barbara and Marvin Potter--who were both convicted in the murders along with Jenelle and her boyfriend Jamie Curd.

Catch the entire episode on ABC's 20/20, before your next hateful text message puts you in a spot that you will forever regret.

Forensic Linguistics, and careful analysis of 'ironic repetition' in emails and text messages played a major role in solving this case and many others--Journal of the Humanities--Legal questions involve language, for instance, who wrote a ransom note--What is the meaning of a phrase in a contract?...To understand Law, one must understand language.

The Ultimate Prepper: Call Near or Far Without a Phone

Robert Durst joins list of "Suspects that Talk to Themselves"

Robert Durst

Is there a 'reasonable expectation' of privacy while in a public restroom?

When Robert Durst was heard during the making of an HBO documentary saying that he "killed them all" during a bathroom break... he provided law enforcement enough to get himself arrested last Saturday.

In United States vs. Hill, the U.S Court of Appeals in the Eight Circuit recently held that under some circumstances, there is no continuing Fourth Amendment right to privacy in a public restroom...

"As a result of investigative leads and additional evidence that has come to light in the past year, investigators have identified Robert Durst as the person responsible for Susan Berman's death," Los Angeles Police said in a statement.

Special Agent William Hagmaier describes how in the homicide investigation of Federal Judge Robert Vance, investigators were able to get permission from the court to glean information from Walter Leroy Moody who 'at times' talked to himself. 

MCSD Training: Equal Opportunity Incompetency

It made no difference whether the victim was a long-time local or a recent move-in

The bungling in the death investigations of Troy Green, Jim Miller, Chester Millsaps, Charlie Young (and others), is likely one of the darkest chapters in Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens' legacy.

Former cops planned a come-back in 2016

A 78 year old former Florida native who knew Charlie Young since Charlie was 16 years old, recalls the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

"The only thing they had was the testimony of his wife, that she supposedly had gone to town and came back and found him laying on the ground, in the floor of the kitchen, blood all over the place...she had a 'boyfriend' at the time, the guy she eventually married."

Charlie's friend mentions the stark contrast in the homicide investigation performed in the death of Harkey Yates, which was done by the (TBI) Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as the lead agency.

"They never did an autopsy on Charlie when he died--even though it was an un-attended death, (supposedly, no one around)...Harkey died in the basement down there in his shop...they did an autopsy on Harkey, why didn't they do Charlie?"

Former MCSD Cops 'Doug E fresh' Brannon & Pat Henry

Fake Lawyer Scandal--Their Actions Described as: "egregious, illegal, and abhorrent"

Former MCSD Doug Brannon  

Brannon testified that he agreed working with Patrick Henry, who was accused of impersonating an attorney, but denies participating in the "illusion." See how Brannon denies knowledge of "misdeeds" by Monroe County Sheriff's Detectives in the Dawson case--see page 12 in the appeal of State of Tennessee v. Jessica Kennedy HERE

Former MCSD James Patrick Henry

Doug Brannon, along with his former partner James Patrick Henry, received national attention in a ruling which Tennessee Supreme Court Justice James Curwood Witt described their actions as "egregious, illegal, and abhorrent...so egregious that it profoundly interfered with the defendant's right to counsel under state and federal constitutions." Dawson claims he was framed