Update on Buffalo River Incident

 Chassity Martin
Reporter
Wayne County News, Inc. 

            Jeremy Dewayne Wallace, 25, of 2040 Carol St. in Waverly, TN was arrested on May 31^st on one count of aggravated assault.  According to the arrest warrant, on Saturday, May 26^th, Deputy Jeremiah Plunk and Sergeant Donnie Carroll were dispatched to the Buffalo River Trail Ride concerning an assault.  On the scene, they spoke with the victim’s wife, Abby Pipkins.  Mrs. Pipkins stated her husband (Christopher Pipkins) and daughter were floating the Buffalo River in a canoe.  The family had been floating for a few hours; until they finally reached the area were a crowd of people jump off a bluff.  At the scene, there were two girls screaming at each other.  Mr. Pipkins began to get out of the boat to pull it across the shoal, when suddenly a man later identified as Jeremy Wallace was hitting him.  Ms. Pipkins stated that after her husband was in the water, Jeremy Wallace kept hitting him and refused to let him up.  While Mr. Wallace had him down, a man, later identified as Joey Tomlin, with a boat paddle hit Mr. Pipkins in the head.  After Mr. Pipkins got on the shore, he pulled a small pocket knife, but he was too weak to open it. 

            Later that afternoon, Ms. Pipkins brought two witnesses to the sheriff’s office to give a statement.  Both of the individuals stated that they witnessed two men hitting Mr. Pipkins.  They also shared that once Mr. Pipkins arrived on the shore, he pulled a pocket knife but was too weak to open it. 

            On Wednesday, May 30^th, Sergeant Donnie Carroll spoke with Christopher Pipkins, the victim.  Mr. Pipkins stated he was floating the river, and when he arrived upon a shallow area he heard two girls screaming.  Mr. Pipkins stated before he got out of the boat, Mr. Wallace began hitting Mr. Pipkins.  Shortly after, Mr. Tomlin came behind and hit him with the boat paddle.  Mr. Pipkins said his body felt like it was going dead.  When Mr. Pipkins was helped to the shore, he could still hear them yelling at him.  He tried opening his knife, but he was too weak.  Mr. Pipkins stated that the only thing he thinks caused the fight was eye contact.  Mr. Pipkins was air lifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in the critical condition due to the injuries and will be undergoing surgery to correct broken bones in the facial area.  An F.B.I. agent has also been investigating the incident, due to the civil rights violations.    Mr. Wallace was arrested with a $75,000 bond; however, he is now being held at the Wayne County Justice Center with no bond.   

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Recovers Items after Break In

Written By: Chassity Martin

Wayne County News Inc.

On Monday, May 7, 2012 the home of Cindy Overstreet, located at 2525 Weatherford Creek Rd., in the Cypress Inn community was broken into. Several valuable items were taken including guns, ammo, knives, television, DVD’s, computer, play stations, jewelry, and other valuables totaling more than $4,000.00. Three subjects have recently been charged with Aggravated Burglary and Theft. At this time, two subjects, Mitchell Copeland, who is being held at the Wayne County Justice Center, and Michael B. Risner, who is in Lauderdale County Jail custody. However, one subject, Stephen D. Risner, has not been located at press time. Anyone obtaining information about this subject’s location should notify the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Crime Fighters line at (931) 722-2300. Several items were located by the victim at a Pawn Shop in Florence, Alabama and recovered by Investigator Kenneth Martin. Inv. Martin also located and recovered three of the four guns, television, knives, jewelry, DVD’s, hand held Sony play stations, other items at 135 Reaves Lane in Crump, TN.