KPD e-News Release: Kingsport Police Make Nine Arrests and Issue Over 100 Citations in School Zones During First Week of School

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

http://kingsportpdblog.com/2014/08/01/kpd-e-news-release-school-is-back-in-session-so-please-drive-safely/

On the first day of school, Monday, August 4, 2014 at approximately 7:45 AM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officer Sean Cornett was patrolling the Andrew Jackson Elementary School Zone on West Stone Drive near the intersection of Lynn Garden Drive, when he observed a blue Ford F-150 pickup traveling 43 miles per hour in the 25 mile per hour school zone. Officer Cornett conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and spoke with the driver, identified as Rachel Marlene Wade. Officer Cornett quickly learned that Ms. Wade’s driver license was currently revoked for a previous DUI conviction. During the traffic stop Officer Cornett detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the vehicle, and Ms. Wade acknowledged consuming vodka. Ms. Wade was asked to perform a series of field sobriety tasks on which she performed poorly. She was arrested for Driving Under the Influence, Driving on a Revoked License, and Speeding and was transported to the Kingsport City Jail for confinement. Upon arriving at the jail, Ms. Wade’s blood alcohol content registered triple the legal limit.

While, Ms. Wade’s D.U.I. arrest was the first arrest in a school zone during the first week of school, it would not be the last. During the week of August 4 through 8, 2014, eight additional individuals were arrested by Kingsport Police Officers after being stopped in school zones for traffic violations. Three of these individuals were fugitives wanted on outstanding warrants.

On August 4, 2014, Kristen May Gorman, a 36 year old white female, was arrested for Driving on a Suspended License and released on a misdemeanor citation after being stopped for speeding through a school zone.

On August 4, 2014, Casey N. Mays, a 22 year old white female, was arrested for Driving on a Suspended License and released on a misdemeanor citation after being stopped for speeding through a school zone.

On August 4, 2014, Bradley Wayne Addington, a 25 year old white male, was arrested for Driving on a Revoked License and transported to jail after being stopped for not wearing his seatbelt while driving through a school zone. He was also found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant.

On August 5, 2014, Fianna M. Cox, a 29 year old white female, was arrested for Driving on a Suspended License and transported to jail after being stopped for speeding through a school zone.

On August 5, 2014, Shauna Denise King, a 26 year old white female, was arrested for Driving on a Suspended License and transported to jail after being stopped for not wearing her seatbelt while driving through a school zone.

On August 6, 2014, Stacey Christine Morelock, a 27 year old white female, was arrested for Driving on a Suspended License and Violation of Child Restraint Law and transported to jail after being stopped for driving through a school zone while neither she, nor her young child, were properly restrained. She was also found to be wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

On August 7, 2014, Jesse A. Ward, a 25 year old white male, was arrested for Driving on a Revoked License and released on a misdemeanor citation after being stopped for not wearing his seatbelt while driving through a school zone.

On August 8, 2014, Miles D. Smith, a 31 year old white male, was arrested as a Fugitive from Justice and transported to jail after being stopped for speeding through a school zone. He was found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Wise County, VA.

In addition to these nine arrests, during this first week of school, Kingsport Police Officers issued 136 citations for traffic violations committed in school zones. The violations observed included speeding, seatbelt violations, failure to move over for an emergency vehicle, and other assorted charges.

There is one final additional incident worth noting. On August 4, 2014 at approximately 3:30 PM, Officer Dustin Jackson was patrolling the John F. Kennedy Elementary School Zone on Lynn Garden Drive when he observed a northbound motorcyclist donning an illegal, non-DOT approved, helmet.

When Officer Jackson initiated a traffic stop, the motorcyclist failed to stop for his blue lights, and initially continued along at or near the posted speed limit. The motorcycle exited the school zone and turned right onto East Carters Valley Road, then suddenly accelerated and recklessly passed another vehicle. Due to the winding road conditions ahead and the careless actions of the motorcyclist, Officer Jackson wisely decided to not pursue.

This incident is still under investigation. The motorcyclists was a white male with dark hair and he was accompanied on the bike by a white female passenger with brown hair. The motorcycle was a black, cruiser style, Kawasaki displaying Tennessee license plate 4ZF300. Anyone who can assist with learning the identity of the operator or his passenger is asked to contact the K.P.D. Traffic Unit at 423-224-2750 or Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.

Again, the Kingsport Police Department would like to remind area motorists that school is back in session, and encourage them to please drive safely, especially in school zones. Officers will continue to provide increased police visibility and conduct extra traffic enforcement in the various school zones throughout the City of Kingsport.

44 Years of Age

Kingsport, TN

2) Driving on a Revoked License

3) Speeding (43 mph in a 25 mph School Zone)

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit