--Calvin
NFL star Sensabaugh arrested in Kingsport
Police said Sensabaugh had three guns in his vehicle, including an AK-47, but was not charged with a weapons offense because he had a carry permit.
THIS STORY COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS FROM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2009
By KACIE DINGUS BREEDING kdingus@timesnews.net
KINGSPORT — Jacksonville Jaguars safety Gerald Sensabaugh Jr., a Kingsport native, was arrested for driving on a suspended license Friday.
About 1:40 p.m., Kingsport Police Department Officer Amanda Lunsford said she saw a black Bentley drive west on Center Street, turn onto Dale Street and circle the block.
Suspicious of a Bentley in the vicinity of Kingsport’s public housing, the officer said she ran the tag and found the car was registered to Sensabaugh. The Bentley pulled up outside Crew Cut Barber Shop, 806 E. Center St., and Sensabaugh went inside.Lunsford then checked Sensabaugh’s driver’s license and discovered it had been suspended for “multiple violations” and failure to satisfy a citation.
Sensabaugh has a history of speeding, Lunsford said, which could have resulted in a suspension due to the points accumulated on his license — although she added that his failure to satisfy a citation alone could have been what led to the suspension.
Lunsford then went into the shop and arrested Sensabaugh on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Sensabaugh was allowed to finish getting a haircut before he was taken into custody.
This marks the second time in less than two years that Sensabaugh has been arrested by Kingsport police.
In March 2007, Kingsport police stopped Sensabaugh after radar clocked his 2006 BMW doing 84 mph in a 55 mph zone on East Stone Drive. During that stop, Sensabaugh was arrested after an officer recovered a loaded Springfield 9mm pistol from the car’s console. He was charged with failure to obtain a carry permit for the weapon — a misdemeanor.
Police said guns were found in Sensabaugh’s possession during Friday’s arrest as well. According to police, he had a Bersa 380, an International Arms AK-47 and a Glock 22 in the car. Jail officials said Sensabaugh was not charged for having guns in his car this time.
Lunsford said he had a carry permit this time.
Sensabaugh was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft and is coming off the best season of his career. He started 13 games in 2008, tallying 70 tackles, eight passes defended, and four interceptions.
His initial contract with the Jaguars is set to expire, and it’s suspected Jacksonville may let Sensabaugh test his worth to other teams.
SUBSEQUENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES-NEWS:
Sensabaugh incident embarrasses city
The initial traffic stop of Gerald Sensabaugh, based on what I read, was unwarranted. I wonder why we’re trying so hard to give a national-level football talent such a bad rap here in his hometown. Why are we not celebrating his achievements instead of harassing him with a woefully unfounded traffic stop? Who wants to live in a town where you have to keep up with the “correct” neighborhoods in which to drive your car? Since when did we consider Kingsport’s downtown “the wrong side of the tracks”? And here I thought we were working so hard to improve it, too.
Are we saying our downtown area is too trashy for a nice car like a Bentley to fit in? Let’s be sure to warn all the NASCAR dignitaries: when you come to town for the big Bristol race, be sure to leave your nice ride at home. Mr. Sensabaugh could have chosen Johnson City or any number of our outlying towns for his home base when he wants to spend time with family in the off-season. Instead, he chose Kingsport, and we should be proud of this local boy who made good instead of looking for ways to make him feel unwelcome here. His neighbors on Buckingham Court are glad to have him live nearby and that this young man behaves like a true gentleman every time you meet him. A story like this should be an embarrassment to a city that ostensibly wants to attract and retain its post-graduate talent. This kind of outdated thinking on the police force is not conducive to the progressive goals our community has prescribed for our downtown area. If the national media were to get wind of this gaffe, it will give our city a black eye and send a profound message to our young people: if you do well for yourself, don’t come back home.
Misty Slemp
Kingsport
Sensabaugh a victim of profiling
I look forward to the day when every resident of South Central Kingsport can afford to drive a Bentley. Maybe then it won’ be a crime. Yes, Gerald Sensabaugh should not have been driving on a suspended driver’s license. But racial profiling is also wrong, and the reason given for stopping his car was textbook profiling. Maybe the KPD needs another diversity training class.
Joseph Comage
Mount Carmel
