Grandson's party at Commissioner Warren Mackey's house leads to arrests

photo William Baskette and Nathaniel Jackson

Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey said he is "extremely disappointed" by a recent incident in which two teens were arrested and several juveniles detained at a party his grandson threw at Mackey's house while the commissioner and his wife were out of town.

"He should have known better," Mackey said. "We are very disappointed. ...We're hoping he will find better judgment through this and that he'll use that in the future."

According to an arrest report of the incident, a Chattanooga police officer was at a Bi-Lo on Highway 58 when he saw William Baskette and Nathaniel Jackson, both 19, walking of the store with beer without paying for it. When he told them to stop, the two teens jumped into a car and drove off.

Police traced the car - which was Mackey's - to the commissioner's house on Murray Hills Road, where they found nine juveniles and four adults under the age of 21 trying to hide or flee the house, the report said. Police said they later found that Baskette had a small amount of marijuana.

Both Baskette and Jackson have been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, drinking under age, theft of property, and resisting arrest.

In the presence of their parents, several juveniles admitted to drinking in the house, the report states, but none of the other attendants at the party were arrested.

Upcoming Events