In the late winter of 1983, a dedicated law enforcement officer, Dennis Ray Armes, a 28-year-old male, was tragically killed in the line of duty. On the evening of March 15th, while on patrol, Deputy Armes conducted a traffic stop on Highway 58, approximately six miles south of the small town of Kingston, Tennessee. It was during this seemingly routine stop that the events of that night took a fatal turn.
The individual Armes had pulled over produced a. 357 caliber handgun and fired at the deputy three times. One of the rounds struck Armes in the chest. Despite being grievously wounded, he was able to draw his own weapon and return fire. However, after discharging several rounds, his service weapon jammed. Deputy Armes, who was not wearing a protective vest, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He had served with the Roane County Sheriff's Office for two years.
The man responsible for the shooting was later apprehended and faced legal proceedings for his actions. He was ultimately convicted for the murder of Deputy Armes and received a sentence of life in prison. Over the years, the convicted individual was denied parole on multiple occasions, in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, remaining incarcerated for the remainder of his life. He ultimately died in prison in May of 2020.
