Sead Miljkovic of East Ridge removed his glasses dried his tears and wiped his forehead in apparent relief as a judge announced Friday he was not responsible for torturing two men during the Bosnian War Jurors deliberated for about two hours at the Chattanooga federal courthouse before reaching a unanimous verdict Friday that Miljkovic was not guilty of two counts of torture His wife gasped from the audience and broke out into sobs Defense attorney Logan Davis hugged Miljkovic while defense attorney Bryan Hoss high-fived a few people sitting in the front row Miljkovic was accused of beating two unarmed prisoners of war The majority of the trial was conducted through translators because most of the witnesses were from Bosnia or Bosnian was their first language The United States fronted the bill for flights and accommodations and some witnesses were in a nearby hotel for over nine days Pehlic and Nuhanovic were among the witnesses who traveled over 5,000 miles to testify against Miljkovic (READ MORE: Hamilton County program for teachers of color questioned) Hoss argued during closing statements that people know torture when they see it and Miljkovic's alleged actions didn't constitute torture Pehlic and Nuhanovic were captured army men and this was not a case of two men who were serving a DUI sentence when they were allegedly beat by a guard The country of Bosnia declared independence in March 1992 from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia A war broke out between Bosnians who supported their central government and a group of opposing Bosnian Muslims who established their own self-proclaimed government group (SIGN UP: Get today's Chattanooga area news, sports and entertainment directly to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletters at timesfreepress.com/newsletters.) The headquarters of the self-proclaimed province was Velika Kladusa Miljkovic became part of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia's army He was eventually stationed as a guard at a reconstructed castle Pehlic and Nuhanovic were both captured during the war and brought to the castle to perform forced labor, according to their testimony. Federal prosecutors argued during closing statements they were beaten One of the witnesses started to cry and couldn't speak briefly during the trial when prosecutors showed him a photograph of the castle Nuhanovic pointed to Miljkovic at one point and identified him to jurors as the man who allegedly beat him "I would never forget the face of the man who was beating me," he said Pehlić allegedly was beaten with a rubber baton his head forcefully pushed down toward a bayonet in order to make him believe his throat would be impaled Nuhanović was allegedly beaten with bats and sticks and forced to fight other prisoners (READ MORE: Hamilton County leaders talk plans for attorney transition) When federal agents searched Miljkovic's home they found a framed photo of Old Fort where he served as a prison guard the defendant has been proudly displaying the crime scene where he tortured prisoners of war," prosecutor Elizabeth Nielsen previously said But Hoss said it didn't make him sadistic because he had a picture of the place that was his hometown He pointed to the fact that both witnesses waited decades to bring allegations against Miljkovic and both of their stories changed repeatedly over the years He said that Nuhanovic was visibly angry on the stand when he was questioned about lying Miljkovic has never returned to Bosnia since he immigrated to the United States He came to America using the name Sead Dukic and has lived in East Ridge for over 20 years He is charged with three counts of passport fraud in connection with the alleged fake name Miljković is nearing the end of negotiations on a plea deal for those charges Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476 Sofia Saric is a criminal justice reporter with a focus on the courts system for the Chattanooga Times Free Press She previously worked as a crime and breaking news reporter at the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming and as a metro correspondent at the Boston Globe Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476 This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press El material de Associated Press es Copyright © 2025 derechos reservados Associated Press y no puede ser publicado audio y/o video de Associated Press no será publicado reescrito para su transmisión o publicación ni redistribuido directa o indirectamente en ningún medio Ni estos materiales de AP ni ninguna parte de los mismos pueden almacenarse en una computadora errores u omisiones de los mismos o de la transmisión o entrega de la totalidad o parte de los mismos o de cualquier daño que surja de cualquiera de los anteriores — A man who lived in East Ridge for years is now on trial in federal court in Chattanooga on war crimes charges Sead Miljkovic's accused of torturing Bosnian prisoners during the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s government is charging him with three counts of torture and three counts of passport fraud Court documents says Miljkovic inflicted "severe beatings" on several prisoners throughout the war the court document says after 2 failed attempts at entering the U.S Sead was able to enter under the false identity of 'Dukic.' the court document says Miljkovic naturalized as a U.S Miljkovic was located in East Ridge in June 2023. Read the last pretrial motions document filed by federal prosecutors last week below: Depend on us to keep you posted as the trial continues Which company produces uranium fuel for U.S Navy nuclear reactors and manages the only plant where the government disassembles atomic warheads What about the company helping NASA to develop a nuclear rocket all while building small modular reactors and developing a pilot plant to restart uranium enrichment for the military It's all the same answer: BWX Technologies the $2.7 billion juggernaut better known as BWXT has embedded itself in every kind of nuclear project imaginable with a strong and growing presence in East Tennessee where 1,100 employees at its Nuclear Fuel Services plant in Erwin "downblend" bomb-grade uranium The facility also creates fuel for the nuclear reactors aboard U.S The region is even more important to BWXT after it bought a specialized facility in Jonesborough and 97 acres in Oak Ridge for a centrifuge enrichment project the company says will create hundreds of jobs through millions of dollars in investments “We have availed ourselves as a key player in just about every interesting nuclear opportunity that you can think of,” BWXT President and CEO Rex Geveden told Knox News BWXT is part of the team led by the Tennessee Valley Authority to build the first small modular nuclear reactors in the U.S. at the federal utility's Clinch River Nuclear Site in Oak Ridge It will manufacture the reactor pressure vessel, the largest component of the 300-megawatt reactor designed by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy employs around 8,700 people at 15 major manufacturing sites in the U.S It was created when the Babcock and Wilcox Company spun off into two separate publicly traded companies in 2015: Babcock and Wilcox Enterprises for power generation and BWXT for government and nuclear operations Here's why the company is growing in East Tennessee and what the expansion says about the U.S nuclear energy and national security sectors Oak Ridge landBWXT likes to acquire companies that have "some precious capability or material," Geveden said He visited two of these companies April 24 on a visit to East Tennessee the sole provider of naval reactor fuel to the U.S BWXT owns and operates the only two commercial facilities licensed by the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission to handle and process highly enriched uranium which is stockpiled at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge The nuclear fuel plant is the largest employer in Unicoi County and narrowly avoided extensive damage from Hurricane Helene last year Geveden also visited former defense contractor L3Harris' Aerojet Ordnance Tennessee business in Jonesborough, the sole provider of depleted uranium to the U.S. government, which BWXT bought for $100 million in January Depleted uranium is a highly dense byproduct of uranium enrichment used in armor-piercing ammunition and tank armor a company developing a gas-cooled small modular reactor Next door to the test facility at the Horizon Center Industrial Park in Oak Ridge BWXT purchased 97 acres with help from the state of Tennessee to develop a pilot centrifuge plant for the U.S The U.S. store of highly enriched uranium for naval reactors is running low, and the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency within the Department of Energy that handles nuclear weapons, projects it will need a new source of the fuel by the early 2050s The agency chose BWXT to explore a pilot plant to restore a capability the U.S BWXT could commercialize a centrifuge technology under development at Oak Ridge National Laboratory “If you were building a nuclear company from scratch you might build BWXT because we have this tremendous base business with the nuclear Navy,” Geveden said “We're utterly crucial to the nuclear national security apparatus.” BWXT is involved in nuclear weapons activities The National Nuclear Security Administration awarded a management contract for its Pantex plant in Texas where it disassembles warheads and makes nuclear explosives to a BWXT-led venture called PanTeXas Deterrence last year The contract could last 20 years at a value of $30 billion Pantex and Y-12 were jointly managed by Consolidated Nuclear Security until last year, when Y-12 split off to focus on its growing workload of weapons modernization projects Babcock and Wilcox managed Y-12 through a venture with engineering and construction firm Bechtel called B&W Y-12 from 2000 to 2014 BWXT has contracts to supply reactor parts to multiple developers of small modular reactors including GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and TerraPower but is not pursuing its own reactor design today The company began developing a small modular reactor called the mPower reactor in 2009. It planned to build the reactor at TVA's Clinch River Nuclear Site in partnership with Bechtel but pulled the plug on the project in 2017 after failing to secure enough funding “We were certainly pursuing our own small modular reactor back in the day because the market just hadn't materialized at that time,” Geveden said What's changed now? For one thing, the chill from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan has worn off The global environmental movement has widely embraced nuclear energy as a path toward a carbon-free electrical grid Around 61% of Americans support nuclear energy as a source of electricity, just one point shy of the 2010 record, according to a recent Gallup report Advocates of nuclear energy say it can be a 24/7 foundation when solar and wind farms aren't producing power “I think the world came around to the view that you can’t construct a grid ideologically or you’re gonna have constant brownouts and blackouts,” Geveden said Tennessee is among a handful of states – along with Texas, Virginia and Wyoming – vying for national leadership in new nuclear energy. Gov. Bill Lee invested more than $92 million for nuclear projects in his latest budget including $50 million for TVA's Clinch River project The fund's latest recipient is BWXT to support the company's land acquisition in Oak Ridge with an eye to restoring America's ability to enrich uranium for defense purposes “Tennessee is kind of right in the center of the nuclear universe,” Geveden said Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. CLARIFICATION: This report has been updated to reflect BWXT's process of downblending creates bomb-grade uranium. The facility separately creates fuel for the nuclear reactors aboard U.S. Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. A 15-year-old girl from Wayne County was shot on East Ridge Road in Rochester early Monday morning, according to Rochester police. Officers were called to East Ridge Road, near North Clinton Avenue, just before 12:30 a.m. after shots were fired in the area, said Lt. Jeffrey Pursel of the Rochester Police Department. Officers confirmed at the scene that someone had fired gunshots in a plaza. Bello said it does not appear that Tucker was involved in East Ridge Road shooting. He was taken to the Monroe County Jail on the weapon charges. Officers are investigating what preceded the shooting on East Ridge Road. No charges were filed in connection with the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 911. Flood Warning until 10:30 this morning for portions of Livingston, Wyoming, & Allegany Counties. Flooding may persist in low-lying areas. Radar15-year-old girl from Wayne County shot on East Ridge Road in Rochester overnightby WHAM — A 15-year-old girl from Wayne County is expected to survive after she was shot overnight on Rochester's north side Officers responded to East Ridge Road near North Clinton Avenue around 12:25 a.m Monday for a report of shots fired and found evidence of gunfire The victim arrived at a local hospital about an hour later with a non-life-threatening lower-body gunshot wound Investigators determined she had been injured in the shooting on East Ridge Road Police said officers noticed a man fleeing the scene and stopped him on Seneca Avenue where he was found in possession of a 9mm ghost gun loaded with 12 rounds was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and taken to the Monroe County Jail Police said it didn't appear Tucker was involved in the shooting Anyone with information can call 911 or Crime Stoppers at (585) 423-9300 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Click here for the latest Bradley County arrest report. more The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will begin utilizing a new vendor, ViaPath, this Tuesday, who will be responsible for providing inmates with phone services, video visitation and the use ... more from Wayne County is recovering after a shooting on East Ridge Road near North Clinton Avenue early Monday morning and learned that a private car had taken a teen to the hospital with a lower-body gunshot wound Rochester Police are still looking for the shooter but officers did arrest a man who they say ran from the scene with an illegal gun is charged with criminal possession of a weapon and was taken to the Monroe County Jail Officers say Tucker had a loaded “ghost gun” but it doesn’t appear that he shot the victim There is a window that is completely boarded after shots shattered the glass at a business in the plaza There’s also a restaurant that has a hole in the front window Employees of the shop said they were surprised to find the damage on Monday morning and that it was unusual The plaza’s owner declined to comment Anyone with information is asked to call 911 Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Richard Reingold at rreingold@whec.com or 585-546-1701 Come enjoy all things of geological origin and kids 12 and under enjoy free admission Two dozen dealers from around the world bring their carefully selected wares to this Camp Jordan Arena Set in a wonderful park in the town of East Ridge the show is intended to be a joyful celebration of rocks Already have an account? Log in here The city thanked the Pioneers for sharing their gifts with the community and for helping make the shelter a more uplifting place Thanks to the talent of several East Ridge High School Pioneers, the East Ridge Animal Services shelter has several new works of art The City of East Ridge gave a shoutout to the four students that created the vibrant murals: "Their artwork not only brings beauty to the shelter but also reflects the spirit of kindness, creativity, and community pride that defines East Ridge," the post said. Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device A 15-year-old girl from Wayne County is recovering after being shot on Rochester’s north side early Monday Officers found evidence of gunfire on East Ridge Road just after midnight and the girl later arrived at a hospital with a non-life-threatening wound police arrested 20-year-old D’Adrian Tucker after spotting him fleeing nearby with a loaded ghost gun Authorities said Tucker’s arrest was unrelated to the shooting Anyone with information is urged to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers at (585) 423-9300 as the search for the shooter continues Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. BREAKING: Former Chatt. Prep. teacher Kenya White intends to plead guilty to enticement charges in federal court. East Ridge man charged with decapitating father pleads not guiltyby WTVC — (Warning: The details of this story are graphic and disturbing) An East Ridge man charged with decapitating his father entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment in Chattanooga Friday morning's hearing for 26-year-old Caleb Disterdick was brief A Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted Disterdick on charges that include first degree murder and abuse of a corpse for the death of his father It was revealed in court on Friday that Disterdick's surviving family members took out a second mortgage to help pay that bond the judge assigned Disterdick a public attorney Last December officers responded to the 1400 block of Greenslake Road about a potential assault tells us her husband was the one who called police He was just mowing the lawn when Caleb came up to him covered in blood and wounded in the left calf An affidavit says Disterdick told officers "I killed my dad." Officers followed a trail of blood to the living room where the affidavit says the found a man lying on his stomach The affidavit says the man had been decapitated with a large knife embedded in his neck Officers also found a pile of blood soaked clothes across the street from the home Depend on us to keep you posted on Disterdick's case The evidence presented against an East Ridge man will prove that nearly 30 years ago he was a sadistic guard who brutally tortured Bosnian prisoners of war prosecutor Elizabeth Nielsen argued Tuesday Sead Miljković's trial began in Chattanooga federal court for alleged crimes that occurred over 5,000 miles away and went unprosecuted for almost three decades -- a case that both prosecutors and defense attorneys have repeatedly labeled as unique Miljković is being tried on two counts of torture for allegedly beating two unarmed men "He was tormenting prisoners for his amusement," Nielsen said during opening statements Miljković was also charged with a third count of torture but it was dismissed and cannot be brought against him again Wally's Restaurant was established in 1937 in Chattanooga and expanded to a the well-known East Ridge location in 1989 Digital Producer/Weekend Assignment Editor UPDATE: It was a sad day in East Ridge Monday as a community institution is being demolished Wally's Restaurant is being torn down to make way for a Whataburger restaurant with wrecking crews starting on the edges of the building and property PREVIOUS STORY: The former Wally's Restaurant in East Ridge has been issued a demolition permit by Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Quality Control In its place will be Hamilton County's first location of the popular American fast-food chain Whataburger Construction is expected to commence within the next few months with the grand opening projected by the end of the year Wally’s East Ridge was more than just a restaurant; it served as a community hub!" says the City of East Ridge "Wally’s continues to serve the Chattanooga community at the McCallie Avenue location." residents can expect to see demolition and construction efforts beginning soon EAST RIDGE — Six years ago, Bob Martino broke ground for what was to be the biggest commercial, entertainment and housing development ever built in East Ridge anchored by the Chattanooga Red Wolves professional soccer stadium Dave Flessner is a correspondent for the Times Free Press who has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 50 years He was formerly business editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press and previously was city editor for The Chattanooga Times Flessner has also worked as a reporter for the Michigan Daily WCBN and the Lansing State Journal in Michigan and the Hastings Daily Tribune in Nebraska Local law enforcement reported at 7:48 p.m Friday that they were responding to multiple flooding related emergencies Social media pictures and videos showed upwards of two feet of water on Hixson Pike There were reports of heavy hail on Lookout Mountain late Friday afternoon. The East Ridge City Council and city manager are trying to find a solution for continuing to help citizens who need it get to places that they need to be has been providing Care-a-Van transportation that is used by just one percent of the East Ridge population But the new costs will put a strain on the city which he said just benefits the small percentage of residents He said services should meet the needs of all citizens In August 2024 that price increased to $20 per trip and $40 for a round trip. The ridership has increased each year and it currently is 3,200 trips for the current year City Manager Scott Miller was told the price per trip would need to increase again to $47 one way or $94 for a round trip When that price is applied to 3,200 trips the council was told it would mean East Ridge’s cost would become $150,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year The reasons for the steep increases include because Hamilton County did not appropriate funds to CARTA for 2025,that East Ridge has been using American Rescue Plan funds to help pay for the transportation needs for the small number of individuals and that money is no longer available And a grant that CARTA was using to provide the service has now been depleted those things have resulted in the higher cost of $47 per ride CARTA needs that amount just to break even the Care-a-Van operates seven days a week CARTA has categorized the purpose of trips from East Ridge 24 percent for employment and nine percent for general purposes has looked at options to lower the cost which could include limiting uses or reducing hours of operation or both Vice Mayor Tyler has investigated and found alternatives that are available to those riders groceries can now be delivered and Uber can be called for rides and have special vehicles when needed he said that some of these services are covered by Medicare but he said many superior programs are available “That safety net shouldn’t suck up so much of our budget,” he said Mayor Williams said he favored continuing service at some level but one that is sustainable and said he favors limiting some services Vice Mayor Tyler said he would rather put the burden on the people who are using the service City Manager Miller said there is no guarantee that the $47 per trip would stay the same in the next fiscal year Buses have to be maintained and employees of CARTA have to be paid In order to prepare the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget Miller told the council that he would tentatively leave $100,000 in the budget for Care-a-Van which might lower the city’s cost down to $54,000 Medical will be defined and he said that would include rehabilitation appointments not a visit to use weight machines at the gym or for a massage The citizens of East Ridge will also be made aware of education that is available for options and how to use available services “The city has resources for people,” he said populating the city’s citizen advisory boards was amended Each council member will have the opportunity to appoint one member to the boards Those discussed include the Library Board that would require three of the five members on that board to be knowledgeable about zoning and real estate The motion was tabled until there is clear language and specific requirements for what knowledge the council is looking for The city’s Housing Commission deals with property maintenance and depends on the codes enforcement department for guidance They are the people who have experience dealing with making decisions for condemning or demolishing a structure The process also involves a structural engineer so members of this board can rely on information from those experts and do not necessarily have to be certified themselves The Whataburger that will be opening at 6521 Ringgold Road at the former location of Wally’s was granted two sign variances - one relating to size and the other for spacing Only Councilman Jacky Cagle voted in opposition Approval was given for operating a medical clinic at 842 South Germantown Road which is within the R-1 Residential district Most recently the property has been used for a pre-school and a speech therapy clinic. WWRD won the bid to provide concessions for the parks and recreation department events The city will receive 25 percent of the gross profits A change order for $8,000 was approved for the sound attenuation system at the new East Ridge Animal Shelter The increase was attributed to increased costs due to tariffs Another change order was approved for the North Mack Smith Road widening and improvements project to modify the drainage system after unexpected buried pipe was found — A proposal to move the location of an East Ridge dog park has dog owners and city leaders at odds Residents say the proposed locations pose greater safety risks than where the park is currently located East Ridge officials say the proposed move was prompted by the addition of the town's new event center The East Ridge City Council is choosing between two locations for the park: But some citizens argue the park should stay where it is afternoons at the East Ridge dog park are part of her routine She and her 9 year old lab-shepherd mix Justice But now she's worried that might change East Ridge City Council was set to vote on the park Thursday saying the sound of barking dogs could disrupt weddings and events at the new town center At the council's February 27th meeting City Manager Scott Miller recommended moving the dog park to avoid disruptions Miller proposed moving the park to either Springvale Park or Camp Jordan But Thompson and other East Ridge dog owners say the move isn't just inconvenient - it raises safety concerns and threatens the tight-knit community Holly Page brings her 2-year-old Doberman Prudy to the park She says she's frustrated with what she calls a lack of communication from the city Page says she's looked into crime rates at both locations and is now worried about safety the city could close the park during big events instead of shutting it down for good is also fighting to keep the park where it is for his one-year-old dog East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams says he's heard concerns that the space might turn into a parking lot-but he assures residents it will remain a green space the city will ensure the new location has better lighting the council voted to table the vote until they could get more community input Some council members also raised concerns about the cost of moving the park the city says existing fences and equipment could be moved to cut costs Texas-based burger chain Whataburger should open its first location in the Chattanooga market later this year The East Ridge Industrial Development Board on Thursday approved a financing plan to help convert the Wally's restaurant that shut down two years ago at 6521 Ringgold Road.. There are still black tire marks and debris on the concrete outside of the East Ridge Police and Fire Service Center one day after police say a juvenile smashed into it with his truck We received several new images and video from viewers who were nearby when the crash happened They told us they heard screeching tires and then saw the truck hit the metal building East Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Creel said the truck ran directly into Fire Batallion Chief Jeff Duncan's office which Duncan and another employee had just left An ambulance took the female teen driver to the hospital We don't know how seriously she was hurt Creel says the only remaining disruption is Chief Duncan's office and a wall that's shared with firefighters' living quarters A juvenile ran a car into the East Ridge Police and Fire Service Center Monday afternoon East Ridge Police Chief Clint Uselton says it's unknown at this time what caused the driver to run into the building The driver was removed from the vehicle by emergency services and transported to the hospital with injuries but Uselton says no city employees were injured ERPD traffic investigators are investigating the circumstances of the crash This is a developing story and will be updated Camp Jordan Parkway in East Ridge has re-opened after a potential gas leak shut it down Wednesday afternoon Evacuated businesses are now allowed to remain regular operations Police have shut down Camp Jordan Parkway in East Ridge due to potential damage to a gas line East Ridge Police say construction workers were working in the area when a gas line was struck in the park including Johnathan’s and Dairy Queen were evacuated per protocol Police are asking drivers to avoid the area and use the Frawley Road entrance — A family-owned restaurant that has served East Ridge for over 30 years has been demolished to make way for a Whataburger The City of East Ridge says Wally's opened back in 1989 It was an expansion from the Chattanooga location on McCallie The East Ridge location operated for more than 30 years until it shut down back in 2023 The city says Wally's was more than just a restaurant East Ridge says the site will soon become home to Hamilton County's first Whataburger location The Wally's on McCallie will remain open — 5 kids were found riding in the back of a U-Haul truck on I-75 Tuesday East Ridge Police say 5 kids were in the cargo area and another 2 were riding with the driver in the cab The adult is in custody and charges are pending for recklessness ERPD says there is no indication at this time that the incident is related to trafficking The East Ridge City Council is voting Thursday on the relocation of the municipality's dog park which city staff proposed moving to Springvale Park or Camp Jordan Emily Crisman became a staff writer for the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2009 Emily graduated with a degree in humanities from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2006 Police say a U-Haul employee died in a crash that compromised a propane tank in East Ridge Wednesday The East Ridge Police and Fire Departments responded to the crash on Ringgold Road around 1:20 p.m Officers and firefighters immediately began working to treat the severe injuries sustained by a U-Haul employee later identified as 42-year-old Jason Bishop of Knoxville The driver of the crashed vehicle was also extracted from his vehicle Police says both parties were transported via ambulance for medical treatment worked for several hours to safely contain a propane leak caused by the crash Police say Bishop passed away from his injuries despite the best efforts of on scene personnel and hospital staff The East Ridge Police Department is currently investigating the crash East Ridge Police say the road has re-opened The propane tank was compromised and leaking ERFD says crews sprayed water to arrest any fire or explosive hazard and worked until around 6 to render it safe Police say the tank was emptied by the tank company so crews could safely collect evidence Tennessee are working to contain an incident where they say "the present danger cannot be overstated." traffic is being kept away on Ringgold Road between Keeble Road and Burns Road East Ridge Police say Chattanooga Fire Department firefighters are now working to resolve the issue "Please avoid the area," East Ridge Police's post said Depend on us to bring you updates on this developing story as we get them — Warning: This story contains dramatic video that may be upsetting for some New body camera video shows the moment East Ridge Police Officer Alan Resendiz was hit by a suspect in a high speed chase last July He was laying spike strips to stop that suspect when the vehicle swerved into him nicknamed 'Smiley' by his coworkers Officer Resendiz has been on “light duty” since January 14th and will be back to full duty on March 20th once he gets the green light from his doctor Watch: 'A miracle:' Officer Smiley shares recovery journey after being hit by suspect's car The man who hit Officer Resendiz, 22-year-old Ta'Bious Tezmon Wheat, pleaded guilty back in October. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. President Donald Trump participates in a National Day of Prayer at the White House. WATCHMan accidentally shoots himself at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge Sundayby Madeline Derivet — A man accidentally shot himself in the leg at Camp Jordan Arena on Sunday East Ridge Police Chief Clint Uselton says the man told police he was trying to put away his firearm after working as security for a church event at the arena Officers say the gunshot wound was on the victim's upper leg Uselton says the man is around 60 years old The man was taken to the hospital by Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services Uselton says the victim's status is unknown — Police are working to learn details about a deadly shooting in East Ridge late Monday night East Ridge Police Chief Clint Uselton tells our newsroom his officers were called to an address on Garner Circle those officers found a man who had been shot in the chest An ambulance rushed the man to a nearby hospital Depend on us to bring you updates on this developing story as we learn more RochesterFirst A 15-year-old girl was shot Monday morning on East Ridge Road according to the Rochester Police Department Stay up to date on the latest headlines in today's Sunrise Smart Start for Tuesday Rochester police are searching for the vehicle and driver involved in a crash on Ames Street early Tuesday morning The Wegmans family is interviewed about their success and cult-like following Scottsville Fire and Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies responded to North Road in Scottsville after a vehicle struck a home Monday evening One Rochester man is seeking answers from the city after discovering all of the sentimental items at his grandmother's gravesite were cleaned up without notice Greece schools will soon be using body and bag scanners similar to those in airports for students entering school Monroe County leaders announced an investment worth more than $700,000 Monday is aimed to boost access to home health care for African American families while striving to promote equity and address long-standing disparities for many who call Rochester home Many homeowners across the Greater Rochester region have seen increases in the cost of their home insurance The Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction of a Rochester mother accused of being responsible for her 3-year-old son’s death in 2022 — A current East Ridge representative and a former Signal Mountain representative testified in the trial of former Tennessee House speaker Glen Casada and his one-time chief of staff Cade Cothren Thursday Defense attorneys began by arguing that the pair did nothing illegal Glen Casada and his former aide Cade Cothren of taking taxpayer money to produce political mailings while hiding Cothren's involvement after the two had been pressured out of their leadership roles following a political scandal launched Phoenix Solutions to offer mail and consulting services to lawmakers Cothren registered the company in New Mexico because the state allows anonymous registration of LLCs and rebuffed requests for in-person meetings portrayed the investigation as politically motivated and orchestrated by current House Speaker Cameron Sexton Patsy Hazelwood (R-Signal Mountain) testified on Thursday claiming she unknowingly used Phoenix Solutions for her mailer She testified she never would have knowingly worked with Cothren Former Hixson Rep. Robin Smith is also expected to testify in this trial. WTVF-TV reports that defense attorneys did successfully point out that Hazelwood didn't question former Rep Robin Smith about what sub-contractors she was using for her mailer Smith was the one who approached Hazelwood about making a mailer and is now helping the prosecution in this case Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Ridge) took the stand next She said she wouldn't have hired Phoenix Solutions if she knew Cothren and Casada were involved Helton-Haynes also said that when Phoenix Solutions did a campaign mailer for her she heard an elaborate false back story on who Matthew Phoenix was Jay Reedy (R-Houston County) was the final witness of the day He echoed concerns about having Phoenix Solutions work on his constituent mailers given Casada and Cothren's unsavory reputation Defense Attorney Jonathan Farmer pointed out that Reedy still wrote then-Rep Glen Casada a check for his campaign after the scandal Reedy says he didn't recall writing the check We plan to have a reporter in Nashville Friday as this trial continues WTVF-TV reports that House Speaker Cameron Sexton is expected to testify Friday The Associated Press contributed to this report Officers stopped Brandon Blount at the East Brainerd Exit on March 25 after a 911 call came in about a man loading kids into the back of a U-Haul truck UPDATE: A father of seven is facing several charges after East Ridge police say they found his children were staying in a U-Haul truck during a traffic stop last week The arrest report says 39-year-old Brandon Blount was stopped by officers on I-75 north at the East Brainerd Exit on March 25 after a 911 call came in about a white male loading five kids into the back of a U-Haul truck and two others in the front officers saw the two female children in the front of the moving truck and say they were told by Blount that there was nothing in the rear cargo area The report says Blount agreed to open the back of the truck and said "I was only taking them to the gas station" as he complied Officers say they found five kids in the back who were unrestrained and appeared to have on dirty clothes The children were without any air ventilation and no way to communicate with the front cab of the U-Haul Officers also found multiple pillows and blankets that appeared to be soiled and the back of the truck smell of urine Blount told officers they were driving to an apartment in Chattanooga from Las Vegas Nevada but he could not provide a clear answer when asked how long the kids had been in the truck The kids told officers they had been in the truck since around 8:00pm on March 24 stopping only two times before the traffic stop happened on March 25 at 2:20pm The report says officers were able to get surface readings from various parts of the truck all of which had an average temperature of more than 88 degrees Fahrenheit The children were taken to a hospital for an evaluation The report says officers were able to call their mother and told her she would have to come and get the children due to the circumstances of the incident The Department of Children's Services was also notified Blount was arrested on the following charges: He remains in the Hamilton County jail on a $12,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 3 Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story as they become available PREVIOUS STORY: East Ridge Police say a family of seven children were living out of the back of a U-Haul when a parent was arrested for driving with several children in the box truck on Tuesday Police say the children smelled of urine and all had lice when they were taken to a nearby hospital Police were alerted of the situation after a witness called about a possible kidnapping while driving on I-75 North ERPD Assistant Police Chief Josh Creel says it was not a case of kidnapping or human trafficking but "rather poor decision making on the part of the custodial parent." PREVIOUS STORY: East Ridge police say a call from a witness about a possible kidnapping involving a moving truck on Tuesday turned out to be poor decision making by a parent who is now facing charges The call came into the 911 center at 2:20pm A post shared by Local 3 News (@local3news) ERPD Assistant Police Chief Josh Creel says officers stopped the U-Haul at the East Brainerd Exit off I-75 North Creel says officers confirmed the witness’s information about children being in the back of the truck Creel says it was not a case of kidnapping or human trafficking A total of seven kids were found in the truck with two riding in the front and five riding in the rear cargo area All of the children were taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation but appeared to be in good health Creel says the parent was arrested on charges related to reckless endangerment Stay with Local 3 New for updates to this developing story — A 24-year-old man from Venezuela faces several charges after police say he ran away after causing a crash that killed 3 people inside the East Ridge tunnels on Saturday morning A police report our newsroom obtained says the man admitted to police he drank a 12-pack of beer before getting behind the wheel The crash happened in the westbound side of the tunnels Arriving officers found that the vehicle had left the right side of the roadway later identified as Yerson Ysaac Sanchez Rivera tried to remove the victims from the wreckage The nurse says she could feel no pulse on all 3 victims the report says Sanchez Rivera ran away from the scene but officers caught up with him a short time later That report identifies Sanchez Rivera as "a Venezuelan national." The nurse identified him as the driver who caused the crash saying she saw the car whiz by her right before it wrecked Online records show Sanchez Rivera faces several charges Rivera is now in custody on a $270,000 bond Depend on us to keep you posted as we learn more — A person faces charges after police in East Ridge say he stole a Mercedes Benz and then crashed into a home Friday morning The incident began when officers got an alert from a license plate reader about the stolen car on the 1000 block of South Seminole Drive according to a release from the City of East Ridge officers saw the still-unidentified suspect with another person in a dark SUV parked next to the stolen car The city's release says the SUV driver accelerated ramming a police vehicle and nearly hitting an officer who was on foot Patrol units chased the SUV and tried to deploy spike strips near Bennett Road and John Ross Road to prevent the suspects from entering a construction and school zone the city says the suspects lost control after seeing the officer setting up the spikes and crashed into a home at Connelly and Bennett Roads but officers caught up with him a few moments later The passenger was taken into custody at the scene The stolen Mercedes was recovered from its original location authorities have not released the suspects name or specific charges they face Hasani Jackson's return to the East Ridge boys' basketball program happened like a lightning strike in unexpected fashion and with surprising quickness his presence on the court has reverberated like thunder Patrick MacCoon is an avid sports lover who joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press January 2 He covers prep sports along with the Chattanooga Football Club and Chattanooga Lookouts Patrick is a fan of Atlanta professional sports and began reading newspapers at an early age to analyze the MLB box scores He is a graduate from Red Bank High School and the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) — A crash in East Ridge killed one person and left 2 others injured on Saturday This happened on the 3700 block Ringgold Road East Ridge Police says responding officers found the accident involved 2 vehicles The other vehicle (pictured above) had a single driver EMS crews declared one still-unidentified person dead on the scene An ambulance rushed another person to the hospital authorities say investigators are working to learn what caused the crash Depend on us to bring you updates as we get them UPDATE (4/3/2025): We’re learning more about the propane accident in East Ridge Wednesday The U-Haul employee who was struck by a pick-up truck was identified as 42-year-old Jason Bishop of Knoxville Bishop sustained life-threatening injuries after being hit by the truck He and the driver were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment According to the East Ridge Police Department The driver of the truck also struck a propane tank (WDEF)- A dramatic scene unfolded in East Ridge this afternoon as crews worked a hazardous situation Nick: The 5800 block of Ringgold Road had to be shut down after a pickup truck left the roadway Joshua Creel of the East Ridge Police Department said “Westbound (on Ringgold Road) at Burns Avenue The red Ford F-150 resting next to the East Ridge U-Haul after crashing into propane tank and injuring U-Haul employee It then entered onto the U-Haul lot where it struck the bollards surrounding the propane tank and eventually came to rest against a U-Haul truck but Fire assessed it after rendering aid to the critically injured victim They then began cascading water onto that tank to mitigate any risk of fire or explosion.” This prompted the measures in the area around U-Haul We did shut down traffic on Ringgold Road for east and westbound traffic and a few blocks south on Burns and Waterhouse Avenues.” We have representatives from the propane company on site and mitigating any leaks… I’d just like to thank everyone for bearing with us.” Creel said Ringgold Road would reopen after traffic investigators concluded their work Both the driver and U-Haul employee are injured and the driver’s condition is unknown Bishop passed away from his injuries despite the best efforts of on scene personnel and hospital staff Our thoughts are with his family,' says the East Ridge Police Department UPDATE: After sustaining multiple injuries after a crash that cause a propane leak on Ringgold Road East Ridge police and fire responded to a traffic crash and entrapment they immediately began working to treat Bishop The driver of the crashed car was also removed and both were taken to the hospital Our thoughts are with his family," says the East Ridge Police Department PREVIOUS STORY: Josh Creel of the East Ridge Police Department said that a red Ford F150 was traveling westbound on Ringgold Road in the left lane veered out of lane and struck a pole with the truck's side-view mirror through the block and hit another stop sign and then ran into bollards protecting a propane tank Crews responded to a crash on Ringgold Road that caused a gas leak damage to property and severe injuries to a person The leak resulted in multiple evacuations and road closures it was still damaged and caused a leak with a ruptured supply line finally stopping after striking U-Haul employee 'sandwiching' him between his truck and a U-Haul truck The victim is in what police describe as critical condition Nearby homes and businesses were evacuated PREVIOUS STORY: Ringgold Road between Keeble St. and Burns Ave. is being diverted due to a 'severe' crash that compromised a large propane tank, the East Ridge Police Department said in a Facebook post. and Chattanooga Fire are working to resolve the scene as soon as possible but the danger present cannot be overstated," the post said Fire crews are keeping the tank saturated with water while crews continue to secure the scene A Hamilton County Emergency Alert sent at 1:52pm asks residents to avoid the area due to a "Hazardous Materials incident." PREVIOUS STORY: Ringgold Road is closed in both directions near the 5800 block after a multiple-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon The crash happened near the East Ridge U-Haul Moving & Storage location East Ridge Assistant Police Chief Josh Creel confirms to Local 3 that a propane tank was compromised in the crash The East Ridge Fire Department has ordered evacuations Stay with Local 3 News for the most reliable updates The city of East Ridge is continuing its agreement with lobbyist Nicole Osborne Watson's firm, Holland and Knight, to represent the city's interests in matters before the Tennessee General Assembly, particularly legislation related to the Border Region Retail Tourism Development Act TN (WDEF) – A fresh dining option is coming our way According to the City of East Ridge Facebook page Whataburger will open its first Hamilton County location at 6521 Ringgold Road That is the former site of Wally’s restaurant Whataburger is known for its hamburgers and shakes when the Whataburger will be up and running It’s nicknamed “The First Shopping Center in Tennessee” They look to bring new retail and residential options to the space The East Ridge City Council approved a plan to close a portion of Old Ringgold Road behind the center to convert it into a promenade for special events This received the support of some residents including Tanner Eaton Urban Story Ventures will have to negotiate with nearby residents to get full access to Old Ringgold Road Three candidates are vying for two open seats in the East Ridge City Council race Sitting council member Andrea "Aundie" Witt is facing two challengers — former East Ridge Police Chief Stanley L Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005 He has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Tennessee Chief Clint Uselton says there is no indication of any continuing threat to the community An East Ridge man is dead following a shooting on Garner Circle Tuesday night to find a man with a gunshot wound to the chest Police have not publicly identified him yet Stay with Local 3 for the most reliable updates Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.