SUBJECT: KPD Increases Impaired-Driving Enforcement During Holiday Season

DATE:  December 12th, 2024

GENERAL NARRATIVE

The Kingsport Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) for the Booze It and Lose It campaign to increase impaired-driving enforcement from December 13, 2024, to January 1, 2025. The THSO’s statewide Booze It and Lose It campaign is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization to reduce impaired-driving crashes nationwide during the holiday season.

The Kingsport Police Department will be placing more officers on the roadways during the holiday season to look for impaired motorists and to act as a deterrence to those who may consider driving while impaired.

Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of drunk driving, coupled with increased sobriety checkpoints and high visibility enforcement, aim to drastically reduce the number of drunk-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities this year.

The consequences of a single DUI conviction for a first-time offender in the state of Tennessee may include costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, and/or the installation of an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle.

The THSO provides grant funding to support Kingsport Police Department’s increased enforcement efforts during the Booze It and Lose It holiday campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Johnson

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 229-9339, Fax (423) 343-9749 

BrandonJohnson@KingsportTN.gov

SUBJECT:  KPD Searching For Missing Man (Update: Found Safe)

DATE:  December 10th, 2024 

CASE #: 24-018756

GENERAL NARRATIVE

Update: Kenneth Cowden has been found safe and is no longer considered missing and endangered.

As previously released:

On December 8^th, 2024, at approximately 5:37 pm, Kenneth Cowden was reported to the Kingsport Police Department as a missing person by his employer. Officers learned that Cowden has several medical issues and that he may be endangered. Kenneth was last seen on December 6^th, 2024, on Federal Street in Kingsport.

 Kenneth is a 47-year-old white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He stands approximately 5’11” and weighs approximately 175lbs. Kenneth is believed to be traveling in his 2008 blue Ford Edge, license plate (470BHWD).

 Anyone with information on Kenneth’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 229-9429.

Alternatively, if an individual who can provide information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

Name: Kenneth Cowden

Age: 47

Gender/Race: Male/White 

Height/Weight: 5′ 11″/175lbs 

Hair/Eyes: Brown/Blue 

Residency: Kingsport, TN 

Last Known Location: Federal Street

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Johnson

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 229-9339, Fax (423) 343-9749 

BrandonJohnson@KingsportTN.gov

SUBJECT:  KPD Searching for Runaway Juvenile

DATE:  November 22^nd, 2024  

CASE #: 24-0018081

GENERAL NARRATIVE

KPD is searching for 14-year-old Dylan Keener.  Dylan is believed to have left voluntarily from his residence on Fairmont Ave. and is thought to be somewhere in the Kingsport area.  He is a white male, 5’4″ tall, weighs 120lbs, and has a tattoo of a date on one of his wrists (unknown which).   Dylan has been into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a Runaway Juvenile. 

Anyone with information on Dylan’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 229-9429.

Alternatively, if an individual who can provide information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

Name  Dylan Keener

Age  14

Gender/Race Male/White 

Height/Weight 5’0″, 120 lbs 

Hair/Eyes  Brown/Green

Residency Kingsport, TN

Other Description  tattoo of a date on one wrist

Possible Clothing  Unknown

Last Known Location Kingsport, TN

RELEASING OFFICER

Lieutenant Justin McConnell

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 229-9499, Fax (423) 343-9749 

JustinMcConnell@KingsportTN.gov

SUBJECT: Wise County, VA Man In Custody Following Crime Spree 

DATE:  November 6th, 2024 

CASE #: Multiple

GENERAL NARRATIVE

On November 5^th, 2024, at approximately 4:44 am, Kingsport Police responded to an SUV crashed into the front of Price Less Foods (4320 W. Stone Drive). Arriving officers located a 2014 gray Jeep Grand Cherokee which was driven through the front wall of the store. During their investigation, officers learned the Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen from the parking lot of the business. While investigating the stolen vehicle and crash, officers were dispatched to a gas line rupture at Scooter’s Coffee (105 Port Drive) which is located directly across from Price Less.  It was discovered the Jeep Cherokee in the crash was driven by a white male to the location where he damaged the gas line. Upon rupturing the gas line, the male then proceeded to fire a flare gun toward the leaking gas to catch the building on fire. Kingsport detectives were called to both scenes to investigate.

At approximately 7:27 am, officers were dispatched to the area of Watterson Street in reference to vandalism to a vehicle. Responding officers learned that a white male had broken the windows on a 2003 white Pontiac Grand Am, a 2003 white Buick Le Sabre, and a 2007 red Mercury Montego. Various items were taken from two of the three vehicles. While officers investigated the incident, a white male later identified as, Tristan Sexton, put purple paint on a Kingsport Police Car and wrote obscene messages on the car. Officers obtained a description of Sexton from witnesses, which also matched the description of the male who had burglarized the vehicles on Watterson Street.

At approximately 8:32 am, officers located Sexton near McDonald’s (4300 W. Stone Drive). As officers approached Sexton, he fled on foot. Sexton was apprehended after a foot chase and was detained. Officers observed purple paint on Sexton’s right hand and located property from the auto-burglaries on Watterson Street in his backpack. A marijuana grinder was also located on Sexton’s person.

After reviewing video from Scooter’s and Price Less Food’s, Kingsport detectives determined that Sexton was the same individual who stole the 2014 gray Jeep Grand Cherokee, attempted to set fire to Scooter’s, and drove the stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee into Priceless Foods. Sexton was arrested and booked into the Kingsport City Jail before being taken to the Hawkins County Jail. Sexton was charged with two counts of felony vandalism, attempted arson, motor vehicle theft, misdemeanor vandalism, evading arrest, two counts of auto-burglary, attempted auto burglary, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

This is still an active and ongoing investigation, and other charges are pending.

SUSPECT INFORMATION

Name: Tristan Sexton

Age: 24

Gender/Race: Male/White 

Residency: Wise, VA 

Charges: Felony vandalism x2, attempted arson, motor vehicle theft, misdemeanor vandalism, evading arrest, auto-burglary x2, attempted auto burglary, drug paraphernalia

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Johnson

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 229-9339, Fax (423) 343-9749 

BrandonJohnson@KingsportTN.gov