Johnson City Police Beats

Published 3:47 pm Wednesday, September 28, 2022

On September 20, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Terrance Boings, Johnson City, and charged him with fugitive from justice for crimes in another state.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., officers received a tip that Boings was staying at 501 Orleans St. 911 Dispatch informed officers that Boings had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Bristol, Va., for abduction, strangling another, larceny, and assault. When officers knocked on the door, Boings was one of the people who answer and was subsequently taken into custody without incident.

Boings was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held awaiting a bond hearing. His arraignment was on September 21, 2022, in Washington County General Sessions Court.

On September 20, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Ricky Britnell, Johnson City, and charged him with fugitive from justice for crimes in another state.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., officers stopped Britnell for a traffic violation. A search of his driver’s license revealed that Britnell is wanted out of Lauderdale County, Ala., for theft of property and possession of forgery instruments.

Britnell was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held awaiting a bond hearing. His arraignment was on September 21 in Washington County General Sessions Court.

On September 20, investigators of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Barry Lawson, Fall Branch, and charged him with one count of burglary and one count of theft under $1,000.

The investigation revealed that Lawson entered a building in the 400 block of West Walnut Street on August 1 and stole various items from the business.

On September 20, Lawson turned himself in to the Washington County Detention Center where he was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond. He was arraigned on September 21 in Washington County General Sessions Court. Lawson’s next court date is currently pending.

On September 21, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Justin Murabito, Johnson City, and charged him with burglary and shoplifting theft of property under $1,000.

At approximately 10:20 p.m., officers responded to Walmart, 3111 Browns Mill Road, in reference to a shoplifting in progress. During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Murabito had switched the tag of an item with a tag of lesser value. Officers were also notified that Murabito had been trespassed from all Walmart locations on a previous date.

Murabito was arrested and transported to the Washington County Detention Center without incident.  Murabito is being held on a $10,000 bond. Arraignment was on September 22 in Washington County General Sessions Court.

On September 22, 2022, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Justin M. Murabito, 41, Johnson City, TN, and charged him with Criminal Simulation.

On September 21, 2022, at approximately 2:43 p.m., officers responded to Eclipse Bank, 203 Broyles Dr., in response to a possible incident of fraud. Bank staff presented officers with a counterfeit check that Murabito had attempted to cash earlier in the day.

Murabito was served the warrant for Criminal Simulation while incarcerated at the Washington County Detention Center on unrelated charges. Justin M. Murabito is being held on a $4,000 bond. Arraignment was on September 23, 2022, in Washington County General Sessions Court.

On September 22, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Scottie Leach, Johnson City, and charged him with theft of property over $2,500 and driving on a suspended license.

On September 21, Johnson City officers investigated a trailer theft. Officers obtained security camera footage of the subject who stole the trailer and the truck that was used. The driver was identified as Leach and a warrant was obtained charging Leach for the theft of the trailer.

On September 22 at approximately 4:30 p.m., officers observed the same truck traveling on E. Main Street and conducted a traffic stop. Leach was the driver and was taken into custody on the active warrant. It was also determined that Leach’s driver’s license is currently suspended and he was charged accordingly.

Leach was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held in lieu of separate $10,000 and $1,000 bonds. His arraignment was on September 22 in Washington County General Sessions Court.

On September 22, the Johnson City Police Department arrested Harley Bunting, Johnson City, charging him with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

This arrest comes as a result of an investigation into the death of a three-month-old child that began on December 23, 2021.

The case was presented to Washington County grand jury and a capias was issued for his arrest.

Bunting was incarcerated at the Carter County Detention Center on unrelated charges and was released on September 22 into the custody of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

Bunting is currently being held in the Washington County Detention Center in lieu of a $150,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Washington County Criminal Court at a later date.

On September 24, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Michael Shoun for Schedule IV drug violations, simple possession/casual exchange, unlawful drug paraphernalia, aggravated criminal trespass, and methamphetamine, possession deliver, sell, manufacture.

Officers were dispatched to the area of 700 Nathaniel Court on an intoxicated male. They located the male, and was able to identify him as Michael Shoun. They then discovered that Shoun was trespassed from all Clark Manor properties. Officers also discovered .41 grams of methamphetamine, 1.5 tablets of Suboxone, and three tablets of Alprazolam inside Shoun’s bag. They also located a glass pipe and a scale with Alprazolam residue on top of it.

Shoun was taken into custody and transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held on a $14,000 bond. He appeared in court on September 26.

On September 26, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Deaundre J. Cole, Johnson City, and charged him with two counts of rape and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Cole’s arrest was the result from an investigation into a rape which reportedly occurred at Monarch Apartments in Johnson City.  During the course of the investigation, it was also determined that Cole was in possession of a firearm. Cole was previously convicted of a felony in February 2017 which prohibited him from being in possession of any firearms.

Cole was transported to the Washington County Detention Center, where he is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond. He appeared in Washington County General Sessions Court on September 27.

On September 27, Christopher Wayne Bennett was charged with carjacking, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, robbery, burglary, three counts of theft of property over $2,500 and violation of sex offender registry.

At approximately 5 p.m. on September 27, officers of the Johnson City Police Department in cooperation with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department responded to an abandoned residence located in Washington County, Tenn. This joint dispatch was in response to a reported incident involving a victim of a carjacking that occurred earlier in the day within the Johnson City city limits.

The investigation revealed that at approximately 3:20 p.m., the victim was at an ATM located at 1806 W. Market St., Johnson City, when a white male entered her vehicle, made threats of having a knife and ordered the victim to drive him away from the area. Also present in the vehicle during this time was the victim’s 1-year-old child. The victim, on orders from the suspect, drove to an abandoned house located on the eastern side of Washington County, Tenn., and made her exit the vehicle and enter the house. Once inside, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim and left her and her child at the abandoned residence before fleeing in the victim’s vehicle.

Later on this date, investigators were able to identify the suspect with assistance from employees at two local businesses from surveillance footage captured on their video cameras. Without this immediate and invaluable assistance from the Trust Bank and the Shell Roadrunner Gas/Convenience Store located on W. Market St., the suspect might have been able to flee the Johnson City area before apprehension could have taken place.

After a subsequent investigation into unrelated incidents, the suspect was also charged in connection with an August 22 burglary to AutoKeene’s, located at 128 S. Broadway St., where two vehicles, a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2006 Subaru Baja, were stolen. The suspect was also charged in connection with an August 10 theft of a motor vehicle that occurred at 145 S. Broadway St., Johnson City, where a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen.

Bennett is currently being held in the Washington County Detention Center in lieu of a $121,500 bond. He was arraigned on September 28 in the General Sessions Court of Washington County.

On September 28, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Thomas Levan, Johnson City, and charged him with possession of stolen property (over $1,000), evading arrest (felony), simple assault against first responder, simple possession/casual exchange, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, convicted felon in possession of firearm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence.

At approximately 4 p.m., officers responded to 3100 Browns Mill Road in reference to a 911 hang up call/suspicious person call. Officers were advised there was a white male in a silver Toyota Sedan sitting at pump #5 acting strangely. Officers located the suspect and identified him as Thomas Levan.

Levan was acting erratic with officers. The vehicle that Levan was in was listed as stolen. Officers attempted to have the suspect step out of the vehicle and he put it in drive and drove forward. The vehicle came to a stop after a short distance. Levan attempted to reach between the passenger seat and console before officers took him into custody. After Levan was taken into custody, a search of the vehicle revealed a loaded 12-gauge shotgun between the passenger seat and console.

Officers of the JCPD arrested Levan for possession of stolen property (over $1,000), evading arrest (felony), simple assault against first responder, simple possession/casual exchange, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, convicted felon in possession of firearm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence.

Levan was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he is being held in lieu of a $44,000 bond. Arraignment was on September 28 in Washington County General Sessions Court.