Thirteen year old John Sevier Middle School Student, Kyle Moosman, had to walk to school today, but he will be riding home in style on his brand new bicycle, thanks to the generosity of a Kingsport Police Officer. Keep reading for the rest of the story.
On April 12, 2016 at approximately 2:00 PM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officer, Jacob Hutton, was dispatched to a report of vandalism at Rotary Park, located at 730 Boone Street in Kingsport. Upon arrival, he spoke with an individual who had observed an adult male suspect, later identified as Matthew Miller, in the act of destroying a bicycle. The witness said that Mr. Miller had maliciously ripped the handlebars completely off of the bicycle for no apparent reason. Mr. Miller was still present, playing basketball at the park.
As Officer Hutton approached Mr. Miller to speak with him, he fled on foot into the surrounding neighborhood, despite being ordered repeatedly to stop. Officer Hutton gave chase, and with the assistance of additional responding officers, eventually caught up with him in the 300 block of East Sullivan Street. Mr. Miller was arrested without further incident, charged with Vandalism and Resisting a Stop, Frisk, or Halt, and transported to the Kingsport City Jail. At the time of his arrest, all Mr. Miller had to say was: “I almost got you guys.”
Through further investigation, Officer Hutton discovered that the bicycle belonged to 13 year old, Kyle Moosman, who had parked his bicycle at the park, and locked it to a gazebo, while he was attending school nearby. Officer Hutton learned that Kyle rode his bike to and from school every single day. Officer Hutton made arrangements through the school to see that Kyle had transportation home that day.
When Officer Hutton got home from work that night, the situation continued to weigh heavily upon him. On his own time, and with his own dime so to speak, Officer Hutton went shopping and purchased a brand new bicycle for Kyle. The next morning, Officer Hutton went to John Sevier Middle School and presented Kyle with his new bike. The school administrators supplied a cable lock so Kyle could secure his new bike and even gave him a few minutes out of class to take it for a test ride around the track.
Meanwhile, Mr. Miller was arraigned this morning and remains incarcerated in the Kingsport City Jail in lieu of a $1,500 bond as set by the presiding judge. He is scheduled for transfer to the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville later today. |