NEWS RELEASE
We are rapidly approaching that time of year when we see a significant increase in deer
related crashes. From Jan 1 – Aug 31, 2010, we’ve had 43 deer related crashes, 11 of those
occurred when vehicles swerved to avoid a deer collision, and three were injury crashes.
During the same time frame in 2009, there were 50 deer related crashes, 10 of those
occurred when vehicles swerved to avoid a deer collision and nine were injury crashes.
In the entirety of 2009, there were 97 deer related crashed, 80 were actual deer
crashes, and 17 occurred when the vehicles swerved to avoid deer and twelve of
the crashes involved injuries.
We offer the following hints to avoid collisions with deer:
Pay attention to deer warning signs – drive with caution.
October through December are peak periods for deer related traffic accidents
Higher risk periods are from sunset to midnight and then shortly before and after sunrise
When there is no oncoming traffic, use high beams; it will help illuminate the deer’s
eyes closer to the roadway. It will allow you more time to react.
If you see a deer on the road, dim your headlights, since it may make startle the deer and
they will freeze in position rather than move.
If you swerve to avoid a collision, try to maintain control of your vehicle.
You could easily end up in oncoming lane of traffic or a ditch. Also if
you make a sudden stop, it may result in another vehicle colliding with you.
The higher the speed of the roadway, the longer it will take you react. So be
especially aware on the interstate.
If there is one deer, there are usually more to follow. Be prepared for multiple
deer to cross in front of your vehicle.
NEWS RELEASE
On September 3, 2010, around 3:37 am, officers were on foot patrol in the area of
Franklin and Main Street when a noise caught their attention. The sound was an
employee placing something in a dumpster. But, they also saw two men walking
between cars in a parking lot. As the officers watched the two men, they saw
them lifting the door handles trying to locate unlocked vehicles. The men made
the mistake of opening the door of one vehicle which happened to be occupied.
The man in the vehicle came out swinging. Officers intervened and detained the
two vehicle burglars. When officers checked the vehicles in the area where the
men had been, they found one vehicle had actually been entered, but no property was taken.
Detective Josh Jobe took over the investigation and charged NOEL ROBERT ORTIZ
Photo (W/M, DOB: 7/11/89, Given Address: 390 Roselawn, Clarksville, TN) and JEROME
ALEXANDER FERRELL Photo (B/M, 10/21/87, Given Address: 1553 Ogburn Chapel Rd,
Clarksville with BURGLARY and THREE COUNTS OF CRIMINAL ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.
Bond: $12,500
NEWS RELEASE
On September 1, 2010 around 1 am, Officer Sven Szczerbiak was checking a storage facility on the
400 Block of Tiny Town Rd when he found that 3 storage units had been broken into.
The locks had been cut and appeared to have been rifled through. Additional officers
responded to the area to look for possible suspects and to complete a check of the
rest of the storage unit area to see if other units had been broken into. Ten units
had been broken into. While officers were checking the storage units, Officer David
Johnson located a hole in the perimeter fence, followed the likely departure route of
the suspects, at which time, he located an abandoned vehicle with a warm engine and the
keys inside at the dead end of Copeland Rd. He noticed there were several items under
a tarp in the vehicle and the registered owner was Curtis Shelton, a person known to Police.
Officer Johnson concealed himself and waited. Curtis Shelton, his brother Jonathan Shelton,
and cousin Charles Doughty showed up in a grey Chevy Impala. A pistol was seen under the
driver’s seat of the vehicle. Detective Durham was called and determined the pistol came
from one of the storage units which had been broken into. There was also other items
linked to the other storage units which had been entered.
CURTIS ONEAL SHELTON JR Photo
(B/M, DOB: 2/18/91), CHARLES DARICO DOUGHTY Photo (B/M, DOB: 12/29/90),
JONATHAN GREGORY SHELTON Photo (B/M, DOB: 8/17/87) all with a Given Address of: 1842 Palomino Drive,
Clarksville were booked into Montgomery County Jail and charged with TEN COUNTS OF BURGLARY
with a Bond of: $100,000.
NEWS RELEASE
On September 1, 2010 around 10:04 pm, Police responded to a single vehicle crash on
Needmore Rd, close to Boy Scout Rd, after a passerby reported the crash to the Fire
Department Station at 1591 Needmore Rd.
A 2002 Dodge Neon was traveling north on Needmore Rd when it left the roadway on the
right side of the road, traveled along the wooded ditch line for over 200 feet, and
at some point the car spun, and came to rest in the wooded area. The vehicle driver,
JESSICA PAIGE TOON, 21, of Clarksville was ejected; she was not wearing a seat belt.
She died at the scene; there was no one else in the vehicle. There was no
indication of alcohol at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and the lead investigator is Officer Bill VanBeber,
931-648-0656, ext 7148. Please call Officer Bechtold with any questions, 931-320-3741.
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Photo 9
(Photos1,4 are Officer Bill VanBeber)
(Photos 5,8, and 9 are Officer Andy Bechtold)
NEWS RELEASE
On August 12, 2010, a Judge released MICHAEL WAYNE BIRDWELL from jail on his own recognizance;
Birdwell was awaiting trial for Burglary. He was also on State Probation for Domestic Assault.
It didn’t take Birdwell long to become acquainted with law enforcement again. On August 31,
2010 around midnight, Officer Griffie Briggs noticed a vehicle pull behind some semi-trailers
near Cunningham Plaza on Ft Campbell Blvd. When Officer Briggs went to check out the suspicious
vehicle, he encountered MICHAEL WAYNE BIRDWELL coming out of the wood line from behind the group
of trailers. Officer Briggs made contact with Birdwell and, in the mean time, Officer David
Johnson searched the area where Birdwell exited from; three trailers were found with fresh
pry marks on their locked doors along with yellow work gloves and a crow bar. Officer Briggs
also located some prescription medicine in an unmarked pill bottle in Birdwell’s vehicle.
MICHAEL WAYNE BIRDWELL Photo(W/M, DOB: 9/28/68, Given Address: 428 Lafayette Rd, Lot 18,
Clarksville, TN)was charged with THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS,
DRIVING ON A REVOKED LICENSE, AND POSSESSION OF DRUGS WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION.
BIRDWELL has a history involving Burglary, Theft, and Probation Violations.