The Bean Station Police Department Chief Phillip Robinette resigned from his position after his 21-year-old son was taken into custody after allegedly impersonating a police officer.
On Friday, January 4, 2013, the police chief's son was apprehended and taken into custody after he stopped a vehicle on Highway 66 in Rogersville. He displayed a police badge and falsely represented himself as a police officer. From there, he detained the driver of the vehicle during a search.
According to Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson, his office arrested the young man while it was in the midst of investigating reports that someone using a yellow Chevrolet Cobalt had been conducting traffic stops. Lawson said that during the search of the suspect's vehicle, Sheriff's Department deputies found two BSPD sergeant badges, two BSPD patches, a BSPD Colt M-16 fully automatic rifle and four magazines.
The suspect and Police Chief's son was charged with impersonating a police officer, false imprisonment, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The suspect was arrested and later released on $10,000 bond from the Hawkins County Jail. It was the Bean Station Mayor, Terry Wolfe that made the official announcement that BSPD Chief Phillip Robinette would be resigning. "The HCSD is investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrest as the Bean Station Police Department conducts an internal investigation," said Wolfe.
The former Chief Phillip Robinette served as a Rogersville detective and was later assigned to the BSPD chief in 2010. Since his resignation, Sgt. Bryce Justice has been appointed as Police Chief for the BSPD until they find a permanent replacement.
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