Grand jury clears father, son in hunting accident
By J.J. Kindred | (jj.kindred@thedailytimes.com)
A Blount County grand jury cleared a father and son who allegedly shot a man in a hunting accident.
Donnie Ray Radford, 60, Allegheny Loop Road, Maryville, and his son, Derek Ray Radford, 33, Old Railroad Bed Road, Maryville, were charged with reckless endangerment on Dec. 12, 2011, after an accident that took place on Dec. 3.
Arrest warrants said the Radfords shot at a black bear that was treed by dogs during a bear hunt near Calderwood Reservoir. Highway 129 was directly behind the tree that the bear was in. There were other hunters standing along Highway 129.
Victim is former Maryville High coach
The victim, identified as Ronnie Summey of Greenback, was apparently struck by either Donnie Redford’s 12-gauge shotgun or Derek Radford’s .44-caliber Magnum rifle, which were fired toward the highway, according to the warrants.
Summey, a former Maryville High track coach and former Sequoyah High School head football coach, was reportedly hit in the groin area by one of the slugs.
Law enforcement located shell casings believed to be from the shotgun and rifle in the area.
The grand jury returned no bills in the case with no reason given.
The grand jury also returned the following indictments:
• Tywan Montrease Sykes, 37, McGinley Street, Maryville, sale or delivery of cocaine less than 0.5 gram, stemming from separate incidents on July 18, 2011, and July 26, 2011.
• William Andrew Lee, 40, Knoxville, two counts of aggravated burglary, stemming from two separate incidents on March 28.
• Dustin James Churchill, 33, Old Walland Highway, Walland, possession of a Schedule VI substance with intent to sell or deliver not less than a half-ounce nor more than 10 pounds of marijuana, stemming from an incident on Jan. 12.
• Darren Desean Jackson, 32, Cave Mill Road, Maryville, aggravated stalking, stemming from an incident on March 27.
