HS Football Player Dies During Practice

Millington Central High Football Player Dies After Injury During Practice
This wasn't the first story involving a football player's death that I've covered.. But it may have been the first in Memphis.  Players who die at practice (and the number is very small) usually succumb to heat exhaustion.  This student athlete took a hit, complained of chest pains, and died on the way to the hospital.  I was first on the scene there when news broke of this death.  They are never easy stories to cover.

"Alarming" Problem Would Drive Me Nuts

Burglar Alarm Blaring For Days
We got a tip from a Cordova homeowner that a neighbor's burglar alarm had been activated for more than 36 hours.  I figured we'd find a silent house when dispatched to check it out.  But I was wrong.  You could hear the alarm from the end of the block.  I cannot imagine putting up with this annoying sound for days on end.  It had been going for more than 48 hours by the time this story aired.

Sex Trafficking Arrest Part of Huge Problem

Teen Held As Sex Slave
Sex trafficking is now the second most common criminal enterprise worldwide behind drugs.  A Memphis man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly keeping a sex slave inside an airport area motel.  Police would not have discovered the crime if the teen had not sought help from another guest.  People in town for Elvis Week were stunned all of this went down in a motel in which they felt relatively safe.  Fortunately, a sex crimes detective was available to add perspective to this piece.

Explosive Situation in Germantown

Explosive devices found in Germantown - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee
Anything related to the Memphis suburb of Germantown always gets a lot of attention.. primarily from those who live there.  The media also goes nuts when any big crime news occurs there.  Two improvised bombs found in a van certainly got our attention.  I was the first Reporter on the scene by a long shot.  In fact, I believe the other stations were actually tipped off by my tweets.  Chopper 5 watched as the bomb squad worked.  This is the live hit from our 10:00 webcast.  I did another live report after the Olympics.

Expected Pitch Forks at One Point

Cordova Annexation Meeting
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton brought all of his division heads to a town hall meeting in Cordova to try and answer questions about a recent annexation.  People are ticked because many were unaware a decade-old court case was finally resolved and that the city would be taking over.  It means, among other things, that taxes will nearly double.  The crowd was hostile.  Few questions were actually answered.  The debate is far from over.

Another Sad Ending to Missing Child Search

Child's body identified
I spent all afternoon Tuesday baking in the triple digit heat where a child's body was found inside a dumpster.  It turned out to be that of a missing 3 year-old.  Looks like the child's father lied to the media and police about what happened.  It's not the first time I've covered a story that ended this way.  I only hope it will be the last.

Busy Breaking News Day

Officer and suspect shot
This is a link to one of multiple stories that kept Action News 5 busy Monday.  I started the day covering a mundane economic development announcement for the 5:00 show.  We then got word of an officer-involved shooting.  My photographer Dan and I rushed to that scene and did two breaking news hits for the 6:00.  Meanwhile, I was instrumental in learning new information in a missing child case.  Then we got the call that MPD's top cop wanted to go live with us at 10:00.  Whew..