 A man has been arrested after leaving the scene of a crash at a tobacco store in Jonesborough. The Jonesborough Police Department reports that officers responded to Discount Tobacco in the 100 block of East Jackson Boulevard at 2:13 p.m. on Sunday. Multiple witnesses told officers that a white pickup truck had crashed into the front of the store, that then began backing out in a hurry. A witness gave officers video and pictures of the truck leaving and said that they saw it go behind the stores toward Magnolia Apartments. Inside the store officers found Cindy Wilson laying down after being hit by the truck and was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center. A trail of broken glass led officers to the apartments, where they located the damaged truck at one of the apartments. The driver, 72-year-old Ronnie Blankenship, was found in his apartment. Blankenship told officers he was aware that he had left the scene and was going to return to the location. He was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and transported to the Washington County Detention Center.
A MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER CALLING 911 TO TURN HIMSELF IN AND THEN HOLDING A KNIFE TO HIS NECK5/27/2020
 A man has been arrested after calling police to turn himself in and holding a knife to his neck during a standoff. The Johnson City Police Department reports that 38-year-old Joenathan Castle, of Elizabethton, called 911 to turn himself in on Tuesday because of an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Virginia. Officers arrived at a home in the 2800 block of South Roan Street at 2:23 p.m. and saw Castle with his right hand in his short pocket and appeared to be holding something in his pocket. Castle was asked to remove his hand from his pocket, but he did not comply with the request. He then made suicidal comments and drew a knife, which he then put up to his neck as he made more suicidal statements. Officers were able to persuade Castle to put down the knife and was taken into custody. He was charged with fugitive from justice because his outstanding warrant out of Bristol, Virginia was confirmed with full extradition, so he was transported to the Washington County Detention Center. He is being held for a bond hearing and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday afternoon.
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR NORTHAM ANNOUNCES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO START WEARING FACE MASKS IN PUBLIC ON FRIDAY5/27/2020
 Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday that people will need to stat wearing face masks in public. The governor said that everyone will need to wear a mask inside a public place starting this Friday. There are some exceptions to wearing the face masks in public: while eating or drinking, while exercising, if a person has trouble breathing or are unable to remove the mask without help, and if a person's health condition prohibits wearing a face mask. Children under 10 years of age also do not fall under the mandate. Northam added that any enforcement needed will be done by the health department, and any willful violation or refusal, failure, or neglect to comply with the order is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. He said that this is not a criminal matter and law enforcement will not have a role in enforcing the mandate. The governor said that he is not looking for people to get in trouble by not wearing a mask, but he is looking for people to do the right thing.
 The Virginia Department of Health reports that there are 40,249 cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. The VDH says that there have been 1,281 deaths and 4,385 hospitalizations across the state. There are 907 new cases in the state since Tuesday's announcement of 39,342. In Southwest Virginia, there was a one case increase in Buchanan County on Tuesday, but that case has been removed, so there are now 144 cases in Southwest Virginia. Wednesday is the fifth day in a row of no new cases in Southwest Virginia.
Washington County has 51 cases with 8 hospitalizations and 4 deaths Wise County has 24 cases with 10 hospitalizations and 2 deaths Buchanan County has 18 cases Smyth County has 15 cases with 4 hospitalizations Lee County has 9 cases with 1 hospitalization Russell County has 8 cases with 2 hospitalizations Scott County has 7 cases with 2 hospitalizations and 2 deaths Tazewell County has 6 cases City of Bristol has 4 cases with 1 hospitalization The City of Norton has 2 cases with 2 hospitalizations The Virginia Department of Health reports that there are 39,342 cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. The VDH says that there have been 1,236 deaths and 4,325 hospitalizations across the state. The increase of 1,615 cases from Monday is the largest single-day jump in cases. There is only one new case in Southwest Virginia, which raises the total in the region to 145 cases.
Washington County has 51 cases with 8 hospitalizations and 4 deaths Wise County has 24 cases with 10 hospitalizations and 2 deaths Buchanan County has 19 cases Smyth County has 15 cases with 4 hospitalizations Lee County has 9 cases with 1 hospitalization Russell County has 8 cases with 2 hospitalizations Scott County has 7 cases with 2 hospitalizations and 2 deaths Tazewell County has 6 cases The City of Bristol has 4 cases with 1 hospitalization The City of Norton has 2 cases with 2 hospitalizations  Kentucky State Troopers and first responders perform water rescue in Bell County. At just after 4 p.m. Monday, a van got caught in flood waters on Jim McGafee Road in Pineville. Trooper Joey Brigmon, of the Harlan post, was first on the scene and called for assistance from the Bell County Rescue Squad to rescue the two women inside the car. Before the rescue squad could get there, Brigmon noticed the van was about to turn over and went into the water to try to save those inside. Trooper Chad Gregory and an officer from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife responded along with other first responders, and Gregory entered the water getting a rope to Brigmon, who was able to tie it around himself and then pull the people out of the van to safety. Bell County EMS checked out everyone at the scene, but everyone was okay.
 A Floyd County, Kentucky man is facing charges after a police chase. Prestonsburg Police reports that on Monday night Shawn Emerson-Gayheart, of McDowell, stopped at a Tiger Mart, allegedly under the influence, and according to the department's Facebook post he decided "to give the clerk a gander at his nether region." Police were called to the mart, but Emerson-Gayheart had already left the store. His pickup truck was spotted by officers going the wrong way on U.S. 23. Officers tried to pull him over, but he took off through Allen and into Martin, where the Floyd County Sheriff's Office and Kentucky State Police had set up a roadblock. To avoid it, he turned on to Hite Road heading into the Frog Town community where he was arrested without incident. Emerson-Gayheart is charged with DUI, fleeing and evading police, driving on a suspended license and other moving violations and was taken to the Floyd County Jail.
A man has been arrested in Johnson City after trespassing at a hotel. Peter B. Grindstaff, of Gray, was arrested on Monday after Johnson City officers responded to the Quality Inn at 1900 South Roan Street at approximately 10 a.m. in reference to a subject trespassing. Officers spoke with hotel employees who said that Grindstaff was sleeping inside a room that was supposed to be vacant. When officers found him, they were able to identify him and found that he was a convicted felon and had an active warrant in Johnson City and was taken into custody. Hotel employees also notified officers of a handgun in the room where they had initially found Grindstaff. A search of the room revealed a Hi-Point 9mm handgun under the mattress. Grindstaff was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
 A man has died after an officer-involved shooting in Washington County, Tennessee. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reporting that on Monday night Washington County deputies were called to a home on Polo Lane in Jonesborough after receiving a report of a male subject threatening to harm himself and a relative. Upon arrival they found 43-year-old Gary P. Dorton on the front porch armed with a large knife. Dorton was asked to drop the knife, but he did not, and at one point he charged one of the deputies resulting in the deputy firing his service weapon and striking Dorton. After being hit, Dorton still wouldn't drop the knife and attempted to cut himself. Deputies then deployed a taser in order to subdue him. First responders administered CPR immediately, but Dorton died at the scene.
 A body was recovered by officials in Boone Lake on Memorial Day. Washington County EMS reports that officials swam over to the scene before they knew it was too late to save the man who ended up in the water. Officials then had to deploy a boat off the public ramp on Pickens Bridge Road to reach the deceased who was found near what he said were cliffs on the lakeshore. No identification was found on the body. According to the EMS, there were no other victims. The ETSU William L. Jenkins Forensic Center medical examiner picked up the investigation from there. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was also on the scene at the lake. The Wahshington County Sheriff's Office is investigating.
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