PDF: Jason Lee Vice
East Ridge police have charged a man in connection with threats made against Hamilton County Commissioner Curtis Adams.
Police are holding Jason Lee Vice, 32, on a combined $225,000 bond for several charges related to threats that began Tuesday evening, said Officer Erik Hopkins, police spokesman.
Mr. Adams, who also served briefly as East Ridge city manager, contacted police and played a tape recording of the calls for investigators.
“Starting (Tuesday) night I got a call and it was this guy cussing and threatening and hung up,” Mr. Adams said. “Then the phone rang again and it was him. He did the same thing and did it a third time.”
Mr. Adams said he never had any dealings with the caller.
“He said something about spending too much money, but he didn’t have any particular political issue,” he said. “He just babbled on.”
Mr. Hopkins said the case was unlike anything he’d ever seen in East Ridge.
“We deal with intimidation cases when it comes to a domestic situation on a daily basis,” he said. “But when it comes to perfect strangers intimidating public figures, that’s something we see on a national stage more than we do locally. In that regard, it’s unique to us.”
Wednesday, East Ridge Detective Gwen Cribbs developed information on a suspect and obtained warrants for Mr. Vice, who lives in Chattanooga. He was arrested at his Woodlawn Drive home and charged with civil rights intimidation, harassment and filing a false report, records show.
“Several of those are felony charges,” Mr. Hopkins said.
It was not clear late Wednesday if Mr. Vice had retained the services of an attorney.
He was taken to the Hamilton County Jail. His bond is $75,000 on each charge, for a total of $225,000, according to police.
Mr. Adams said the incident will not deter him from responding to constituents.
“When I went into office, I said I’d always answer my phone and always would be available,” he said. “My phone’s always been listed, still is, and I return my phone calls.”