Paragraph 6 reads: "Seiber was 'incoherent' at first, said McNabb. 'I'm sure he was intoxicated. He later stated he had been drinking vodka. He said he was taking Prozac and something else for his nerves.'"

Reserve deputy charged -
Neighbor slain with handgun
The Knoxville News-Sentinel
June 9, 1999
Author: Bob Fowler, News-Sentinel Anderson County editor
Estimated printed pages: 2

CLINTON -- An Anderson County reserve deputy, enraged over a phone call from his estranged wife, repeatedly shot his neighbor with the handgun he used while on duty, officials said Tuesday.
Darrell Seiber, 29, was charged with murder in the Monday night shooting. Seiber, a resident of Old Lake City Highway near Lake City, was off duty from his volunteer post at the time.

Noah Hawkins, 60, who lived next door to Seiber, was killed.

After ending a phone call with his wife, "He (Seiber) just went off," said Anderson County Sheriff's Office spokesman Everett McNabb. "He took his anger out on Mr. Hawkins."

When deputies arrived at Hawkins' residence shortly before 11 p.m., they found Seiber lying on the ground behind Hawkins' home, McNabb said. "Their first thoughts were that he was dead, too," McNabb said.

Hawkins' body was found on the back porch, along with Seiber's 40-caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun that he used while working as a reserve officer. Several spent cartridges were found on the porch, McNabb said.

Seiber was "incoherent" at first, said McNabb. "I'm sure he was intoxicated. He later stated he had been drinking vodka. He said he was taking Prozac and something else for his nerves."

McNabb said Hawkins was shot "multiple times at fairly close range." An autopsy has been scheduled, he said.

The shooting occurred just after Seiber had received a page from his wife and had called her on a cordless phone he had brought with him from the home he shared with his parents, McNabb said.

A witness to the shooting, Lake City resident Richard Martin, fled the scene and later notified the Lake City Police Department of the shooting, McNabb said.

Seiber joined the Anderson County Sheriff's Department as a reserve officer in November 1998. Reserve officers must pass psychological evaluations and background checks before they are allowed to serve, McNabb said.

McNabb said Seiber's application "stated he was a field officer in Morgan County for about one year." Morgan County Sheriff Bobby Gibson, however, said there are no records that Seiber ever served in that capacity.

"We had never had any problems with him (Seiber) prior to this," McNabb said.

Uniformed reserve officers carry weapons as they perform various non-paid functions for the sheriff's office, ranging from duties at the jail to patrols at high school athletic events.

McNabb said the Anderson County Sheriff's Office has 25 reserve officers who are required to work 16 hours a month to maintain that status.

Seiber is being held in the Anderson County Jail without bond pending arraignment June 14 in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

Bob Fowler may be reached at 423-481-3625 or bfowler@knoxnews.infi.net.
Edition: Final
Section: A Section
Page: A5