Briefly
Police: Fleeing driver dead, officers injured during pursuit
SPARTA, Tenn. - Officials said a fleeing driver died and three law enforcement officers were injured when the officers pursued and fired at a vehicle in Tennessee.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it happened Thursday night in White County, about 90 miles east of Nashville.
The agency said in a statement that officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but the male driver refused to pull over and crashed into several law enforcement vehicles before continuing on. The bureau said a White County deputy and a Sparta police officer fired at the vehicle, which veered off the road and crashed. Officers found the driver dead.
Police said a Sparta officer and two deputies had injuries consistent with being in a crash.
Officials withheld the identities and race of the suspect and officers.
Judge declares mistrial in infant starvation case
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A judge has declared a mistrial and dismissed all charges against parents in the starvation death of their baby.
The Daily News Journal reported that the judge determined an investigating detective should have obtained the baby’s feeding machine as evidence, and said prosecutor Hugh Ammerman permitted the jury to hear prejudicial information.
Twenty-five-year-old Sinead Omer, who is pregnant and has three surviving children, and the baby’s father, 27-year-old Terry Craighead, had faced life in prison if convicted of child neglect, abuse and murder.
Their 5-month-old daughter Skyler Rae had heart surgery after being born and was diagnosed with atypical DiGeorge syndrome. She died in 2013.
Defense lawyer Brad Hornby said the machine might have had a technical problem.
Ammerman said he’s not sure the ruling can be appealed.
Sheriff called to defuse disruption involving judge
CHATTANOOGA - A Tennessee sheriff said he was called to defuse a disruption when a Chattanooga judge on medical disability leave visited the courthouse to find another judge’s belongings in his office.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that General Sessions Judge David Bales calmed down after the two chatted and he left the courthouse on his own.
Bales had missed several months for cancer treatments before asking Gov. Bill Haslam in March to name a temporary replacement, saying he was hoping to return “as soon as possible.”
Bales told the newspaper he arrived at the courthouse to find another judge had removed his belongings and had put them into her smaller office. He said her desk, lamps and files were in his office.
Tennessee officers leave hospital after assault by inmates
CENTERVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee officials said three correctional officers have returned home from the hospital after they were assaulted in a disturbance involving 16 inmates.
A state Department of Correction news release said Officer Paul Nielsen was released from the hospital Wednesday night, and Officer Jesse Shockley was released Thursday afternoon. Both were stabbed multiple times.
Officer Lester Ball was already released overnight after the incident Sunday.
The department said the inmates attacked the officers, holding one hostage for three hours Sunday afternoon at a housing unit at the Turney Center Industrial Complex. The prison is in Hickman County.
Worker killed in accident at Nashville packaging plant
NASHVILLE - Authorities said the death of a worker at a packaging plant has been classified as an accident.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said 51-year-old Timothy Evans died Wednesday at ISOFlex Packaging.
Police said Evans was operating a baler when it became full.
Police said Evans suffered a head injury while trying to close the baler door with a co-worker. He died at the scene in what police are calling a workrelated accident.
— Associated Press