By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com
A search for a missing child in Wartrace ended well when he was found safely Monday night.
The 8-year-boy, Coleman Comstock, was found in a field off McKinley Street hear his family’s Vine Street home by volunteer searchers Robert Dye and Willie Phillips. A large number of Wartrace residents were joined by Bedford County deputies in an effort that lasted several hours.
“We can’t express how grateful and blessed we are for every single person who helped us search, the law enforcement, all of Wartrace and everyone who came from all around Wartrace, our family and friends, also those who were praying for us,” his parents, Hope and Andrew Comstock, said shortly after the ordeal ended.
“We appreciate everything each person did to help us and we thank God for keeping Coleman safe until he was found. We are truly blessed.”
CSX Railroad trains were told to proceed slowly as they passed through the town. A search dog was considered; handers were told he didn’t like dogs.
Coleman was safe, uninjured, and was returned to his parents.
House fire
Two people suffered burns when a fuel tank being removed from a vehicle near Unionville erupted into flames Saturday, the Bedford County Fire Department said.
Jason Davis and his son, a juvenile, received second degree burns and were taken to Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital, according to a BCFD report. The home, on Broomsage Circle, was badly damaged.
The vehicle was reportedly in the home’s garage. The fire spread from the garage to the remainder of the house, the BCFD said.
Tonya L. Chester, a resident, is listed as the home’s owner.
Up a tree
A suspect in several traffic offenses Friday night climbed a tree to escape searchers, officials say.
Spencer Damian Gurton II, 25, of Rattlesnake Lodge Road, was discovered off Depot Street near the VFW post after extensive searching including a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicoper and ground officers from the THP and Shelbyville Police Department. An SPD officer eventually found Gurton.
The THP was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.
Gurtonn was charged with reckless endangerment; evading arrest on foot and by vehicle; reckless driving; running a red light; fourth offense driving on a revoked license; registration violation; failure to appear; and violation of the state muffler law. He was held on $53,000 bond.
Stolen SUV
A 1998 Mercury Mountaineer SUV was stolen overnight Friday from a home in the 2200 block of Highway 41A South.
The keys had been left inside, a Bedford County Sheriff’s Office report said.
A Mullinswood Road resident reported at 3:22 a.m. Saturday a man driving the Mountaineer was looking at a vehicle parked at a Mullinswood Road home. The man fled when confronted by a neighbor.
The SUV was found nearby out of gas in a yard on Mullinswood Road.
Jail intake
The following were arrested since Thursday by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.
- Rayananna Ahmed, 19, Antioch; DUI (1st), simple possession of schedule 6 drug; held, $3,000 bond
- Gaspar Sebastian Baltazar, 27, Wartrace Pike; no driver's license, traffic control device; summons issued
- Joshua Miguel Beltran, 23, Dunnaway Street; violation of probation; held, no bond
- Richard Lane Burton, 35, Henderson Road; DUI (1st); released, no bond
- Savanna Eve Campbell, 23, Fair Oak Street; DUI (1st); released, no bond
- Clemente Isreal Castorena, 46, Juniper Street; DUI (1st); released, no bond
- Matthew Ray Clanton, 26, Ledgeview Drive; simple possession of methamphetamine; held, no bond
- Ricky D. Clanton, 58, Molder Road; simple possession of schedule 2 drug, violation of probation; held, $2,500 bond
- Hailey Alexs Cooper, 18, Southview Drive; financial responsibility, violation of light la, no driver's license; summons issued
- Tammie Cunningham, 51, Wood Street; show cause, driving with a suspended license, red light violation; released, $4,000 bond
- Dorian Flores, 32, Cates Street; criminal trespassing, vandalism; released, $6,000 bond
- Auston Gilley, 28, Woodbury; DUI; held, $1,5000 bond
- Spencer Damio Gurton II, 25, Rattlesnake Lodge Road; evading on foot, evading arrest (vehicle), reckless driving, financial responsibility, muffler law violation, traffic control device (red light), driving on a revoked license (4th), registration violation, reckless endangerment, failure to appear, attachment; held, $53,000 bond
- Kevin Wayne Hargrove, 45, Pass Road; driving with a revoked license (4th), financial responsibility, due care; held, $2,000 bond
- Robert Lee Huggins III, 52, Womble Road; driving on a suspended license, financial responsibility, light law; summons issued
- Ronnie Lee Johnson, 20, Avalon drive; simple possession of schedule 6 drug, light law, no driver's license on person; summons issued
- Belen Bernice Luque, 26, East Lane Street; driving on a suspended license; summons issued
- Jamie Elizabeth Merlo, 42, Cedar River; indecent exposure, public intoxication; released, $1,500 bond
- Cane Mitchell Myers, 26, Cowan; probation revocation, failure to appear; held, no bond
- Cynthia Prisyl Reyes Morales, 38, Madison Street; no driver's license, violation of light law, financial responsibility; summons issued
- Facondo Rodriguez Troncoso, 56, Midland Road; driving let of center, driving on a suspended license (3rd); summons issued
- Betsy Rubi Rodriguez, 27, Neely Avenue; aggravated domestic assault; held, $10,000 bond
- Lizbeth Romero Gomez, 33, Butler Street; no driver's license, no hands free device; summons issued
- Tyler Adam Walls, 19, Dover Street; failure to appear; held, $2,500 bond
- Freddy David Zuna Sierra, 20, Maplewood Drive; violation of probation, driving on a suspended license, reckless/careless driving, stop sign violation; released, $10,000 bond
