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Kingsport Police Department
Dale Phipps, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 http://KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department • www.KingsportPDBlog.com |
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NEWS RELEASE | |||
SUBJECT: | K.P.D. Arrests Suspect in Felony False Reporting Incident | ||
DATE: | July 13, 2021 | ||
CASE #: | 21-014381 (Stand-By)
21-014404 (Threats) |
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GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
On July 12, 2021 at approximately 12:30 PM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers were called to Hunter Wright Stadium, located at 800 Granby Road in Kingsport, to stand by while team management dismissed a Kingsport Axmen baseball player, Matthew T. Taylor, from the team and banned him from the premises. Mr. Taylor was allowed to collect his personal belongings and then left the facility without incident.
Approximately an hour and a half later, K.P.D. was called back to the stadium in reference to threats made by the same individual. Further investigation by responding Officers and Detectives revealed that Mr. Taylor had sent messages, via a social media application, in which he had threatened to kill multiple people at the Kingsport Axmen game scheduled for that evening. Mr. Taylor’s actions naturally resulted in people being placed in reasonable fear of serious injury or death and the game scheduled for that evening, and ultimately the game scheduled for the following evening, being canceled by team management out of an abundance of caution. Later that afternoon, Officers located Mr. Taylor at a residence in Sullivan County and placed him under arrest. He was transported to the Kingsport Justice Center where he was charged with False Reporting (Class C Felony) and Harassment. He was processed and confined in the Kingsport City Jail but has since been released after posting a $25,000 bond. This remains an active investigation by the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division; therefore, no additional information can or will be released at this time. Any inquiries regarding the Kingsport Axmen baseball team should be directed to that organization. |
SUSPECT INFORMATION | |
Name | Matthew T. Taylor |
Age | 21 Years of Age |
Gender/Race | Male/White |
Residency | Kingsport, TN |
Charge(s) | 1) False Reporting (Class C Felony)
2) Harassment |
RELEASING OFFICER | ||
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-343-9749 (FAX) ThomasMPatton |