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Open , Honest County Government |
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PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS of SEVIER COUNTY |
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A million ideas start with one blank piece of paper. |
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Guest Columnist |
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As an independent news reporter and commentator who does not believe in the power of politics to hide the facts or cloud the issues, it was my pleasure to be asked to write a column for The Public Spirited Citizens website. Most local news media are not in a position to criticize local powers-that-be nor do they have the desire to look into the problems that face the citizens of Sevier county. My promise to my readers is that my sources will be dependable, no one will control what I print, and no official will evade my questions without suffering the consequences. My reports and comments are independent of The Public Spirited Citizens and in no way reflect their views. Any comments or ideas may be sent directly to me .
Paige Turner Guest Columnist |
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Contact Paige |
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Tragedy in a Small Town Installment 1
On October 6, 2008, Pamela Ross of Sevierville, lost her life in what the local officials ruled a "suicide". Her husband, Jimmie Ross was appearing at a foreclosure hearing before General Sessions Judge Jeff Rader at the time of her death which appears to have been witnessed by at least three of Sheriff Ron Seal’s officers. This is where the true details of what really happened to Pamela Ross begin to get lost in varying stories by Seals' men and in no way reflect recorded audio from 911 and Sheriff Departments radio transmissions. As this complex story unfolds, it will cause many locals to think back on the 1983 "suicide" of a prominent local banker and how police and the District Attorney's office treated the case in the same manner as the Ross death. In the past few weeks, and just days before the anniversary of her death, Jimmie Ross has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit in federal court against Judge Jeff Rader, Sheriff Ron Seals, Sevierville Police Chief Don Myers and others that participated in the attempted October eviction. Although the death of his wife Pamela is not mentioned in the complaint, their children have filed a $100,000,000.00 wrongful death suit naming many of the same as defendants. Sevierville Police Chief Don Myers, who was named in both suits as an individual (not in his official capacity as Chief) still refuses to release an official report of the incident to the family, leading many of my sources to conclude that Ross' death was at the hands of another person and the Chief is being placed in a position of protecting the Sheriff, as is District Attorney James Dunn. Dunn refused to allow an autopsy be done until the family was able to get their own which is red flag itself. This story is very complicated and, due to the conflicting stories by the involved officers, deserves the time and effort I am willing to invest to show the public how true corruption within a system works. That is until it is exposed in a federal court system away from the "favors" of local judges and the District Attorney. The first part of the Ross story will be presented on The Public Spirited Citizens website next week and will be an in-depth look at the first Sheriff's department officers sent to the Ross home by Judge Jeff Rader. Although there was no writ of possession, Sergeant Mike Voncannon, Sergeant James "JJ" Breeden, and Chief Detective Jeff McCarter were at the Ross home minutes prior to her death. Sources I have interviewed will allow me to give you an inside look into the lives of these three officers as well as their reputations.......or lack thereof. The Ross family deserves answers not excuses and lies. Anyone wishing to contribute information to this or any other item of local interest may contact me by email. All replies will be held in the strictest confidence.
Paige Turner Guest Columnist
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The day Pamela Ross died still leaves many questions in my mind as well as the family members who have nothing other than a statement from the District Attorney saying that her death was ruled a suicide. Fourteen months after the fact, Sevierville Police Chief and his investigators still refuse to allow the family to see the official report. Had it actually been a suicide, there should be no reason to hide their findings. That is unless they realize Sheriff Ron Seals has acted illegally by having officers at the Ross home and the lawsuits that include the city officers will bring out many truths in a court of law. Regardless of what has been said, we do know that the family has asked for a federal investigation into civil rights violations that allegedly have occurred. Excellent sources tell me that one of the first officers on the scene has admitted that they were sent to the Ross home by General Sessions Judge Jeff Rader. Without a writ of possession being issued by the Judge that day, we must assume that Sheriff Ron Seals sent three of his officers to the Ross home as a favor to the Judge. The first officer I will give details about seems to be the one who gained the most in the days following Pamela Ross’ death. Sergeant James “ J J” Breeden had accompanied Sergeant Mike Voncannon and Chief Detective Jeff McCarter to the home to serve what another officer (during a radio transmission) called a “felony warrant” although Sheriff Seals denied this issue. Although there are witnesses that saw the officers go into the house earlier and there is a scream heard in the background of Deputy Fred Atchley’s radio, Breeden was said to have yelled “shots fired” as a Sevierville Police Department officer arrived at the home. The officer’s accounts say they entered the home to find Mrs. Ross in the garage with a single gunshot to the chest. In my background look into Sergeant Breeden, I have interviewed some of his co-workers as well as some people who have known the Kodak man for many years. To say his reputation is questionable would be an understatement. Sergeant Breeden’s reputation seems to be one of a womanizer and the type of officer that will do anything for his superiors to protect his job. I found a copy of an ethics complaint filed against Breeden during the one-year-period of the Sevier County Ethics Committee which detailed, among other things, Breeden’s use of cocaine while on patrol in a county vehicle, sexually assaulting a female prisoner as well as keeping confiscated drugs and guns in the trunk of his cruiser. Shortly before his death, Sheriff Bruce Montgomery nearly fired then Deputy Breeden for allowing a wanted felon to drive away from a traffic stop. Montgomery gave him another chance, but not as many as current Sheriff Ron Seals. Breeden quickly moved to Corporal under Seals, and a short time later was promoted to Sergeant. One person who I interviewed has known Breeden the entire officer’s thirty-something years, and did not hesitate to give me many details about the man. This man, who assured me Breeden was from a fine family, was arrested by Breeden on a bogus charge and at a later time, was able to record the officer admitting he knew the man’s accusers had lied but he did nothing to stop the warrant from being issued. I was able to hear this recording along with another in which one of Breeden’s supervisors was heard saying “I wouldn’t believe JJ if he were sitting on Jesus’ lap!” Details and statements like this prove to me that this officer is of questionable character and, if the county had a credible Sheriff, would no longer be carrying a badge. There have been many times that Breeden has been on the scene of what were called “suicides”, but apparently the Ross incident led to bigger and better things for the man. Sheriff Ron Seals awarded Breeden the post of County Fire Inspector shortly after Freddie Atchley talked too much about a command post he was arranging for the Ross “arrest”. Apparently Fire Inspector Breeden’s “shots fired” announcement was appreciated by Sheriff Seals. That is until the lawsuits started flying. Most folks I talked to say that Breeden is not very intelligent nor is he brave and most think he will be the first to admit who actually shot Pamela Ross. Time will tell.
More on the other officers next time.
Paige Turner |
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Tragedy in a Small Town Installment II |
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Tragedy in a Small Town Installment III The past few weeks have given me time to review some additional information that has been provided by numerous citizens who have realized the seriousness of how local law enforcement can inflict such damage on the lives of the Ross family. This installment will give some insight into two of the other Sevier County Sheriff's Department officers that have first-hand knowledge of what really happened to Pamela Ross and who was responsible. Chief Detective Jeff McCarter, a long time department employee, was the highest-ranking officer on the scene at the time of Ross' death. McCarter was a member of the SCSD's Detective Division, until Sheriff Ron Seals promoted him to Chief of Detectives. Interviews with McCarter's acquaintances and co-workers indicate that, until the last few years, he was a very fair and above board in his professional life. This all seemed to change as he developed a close working relationship with convicted felon and former Task Force Agent Mark Schultz and fellow detective Matthew Cubberly. I have had several people come forward with information accusing McCarter of being involved in "shaking down" drug dealers in the county for money, drugs and guns.& n bsp; Although none of these tips have been proven to be 100% factual, there are some serious common denominators that I cannot reveal. At least one person claims to have contacted federal authorities regarding the acts of McCarter and his working associates. In addition to the questionable acts, I have also been told that tips regarding serious crimes have been sent to Chief Detective McCarter, with apparently no interest in following up on these matters. In my opinion, he is being told to to investigate and who not by his boss, Sheriff Ron Seals. The third officer and probably the one with the most on his mind is Sergeant Mike Voncannon. Voncannon has worked for the SCSD since Don Ogle was Sheriff, prior to the Bruce Montgomery days. Interviews with people who have known him for several years lead me to think he has been in this position before. Some say he was involved in a "questionable" shoot while working for a law enforcement agency in Florida some years ago. The day of the Pamela Ross shooting, Voncannon was reportedly the officer who was most "shook". Detective Matthew Cubberly was heard on the radio (tapes available) asking for a Chaplain to meet Voncannon at the office. When the dispatcher asks Cubberly if Voncannon "saw her shoot herself", Cubberly responds with a "basically". What is "basically"? Did he see it or not? Or, did he do it or not? I believe this is one question that will be answered shortly. Other than his odd behavior, I have had some tips come in that Voncannon, who has never married and lives next to his mother, has a serious addiction to internet pornography. Not seemingly a plus for a public servant. Although Sheriff Ron Seals denied there was any type of warrant issued for Mrs. Ross, he is heard on the radio transmission tapes saying that they were there to serve a detainer warrant. Later when told that there had been a shooting, Seals' reply was "aw hell!". Detective Jeff McCarter has told other officers that they were sent to the Ross home by Judge Jeff Rader. Time will tell and the truth may hurt more than we can ever imagine. Currently Chief Don Myers is still refuses to give the family a formal report nor will he return the last of the guns he had his officers illegally confiscate from the home. I hope to try to obtain from the Sevierville Police Department a copy of the in-car video taken by an officer arriving at the home to meet Seals officers. Although I have heard of more than one occasion that Sevierville Police Department will alter videos for other agencies, it will be interesting to see if the cover-up will include high-tech deletions as well as good-ole-boy lies. Paige Turner |
