Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police say a Grand Jury finding brings closure to the unsolved 1989 Murder of KPD officer Tony Williams.
The investigation into the 1989 murder of the off-duty officer is officially closed after a Knox County Grand Jury determined there was probable cause to charge a now-deceased individual with his murder.
The Grand Jury returned a finding that there was probable cause to believe that Johnny Warwick, who died last November, committed the first-degree murder of Williams in July of 1989.
Officer Williams was shot and killed while riding his motorcycle on Cherry Street near I-40 while off duty.
The threat made by the Carter Middle School student was unrelated to previous threats made to Halls Middle School by three students at Gibbs Middle School, KCSO said. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Another Knox County middle school student is arrested for making a false school shooting call.
Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office announcing Tuesday that detectives had arrested a 12-year-old Carter Middle School student Monday for making a false school shooting call.
The arrest marks the fourth Knox County middle school student to face consequences for making fake threats in the last week.
KCSO says this incident is unrelated to previous threats made to Halls Middle School by three students at Gibbs Middle School. They are, once again, urging that parents and guardians speak to their children about the consequences of making these threats.
Officials have confirmed one death in what has been called a domestic-related incident. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Rocky Top, TN (WOKI) A man is dead and an investigation is underway following a shooting in Anderson County.
Officials with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office say deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Cedar Lane in Rocky Top Monday after receiving a call reporting the shooting.
ACSO says 45-year-old Eric E. Patterson was found dead at the scene when deputies arrived; officials determined that the incident was domestic-related.
Detectives from ACSO’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the incident.
Knox County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home of United States Representative Tim Burchett over the weekend.
Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office told WVLT News that they did not have a report on hand but do know Sheriff Tom Spangler sent patrol deputies to the house of Burchett (TN-02) after elected officials received an anonymous email saying a man had killed his wife’s lover after catching the two cheating, tied her up, and left her at Burchett’s home.
Someone sent an anonymous email to Knox County Officials of a man dead and woman tied up at the house of U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett.(WVLT)
Sheriff officials said after a search of the property, nothing was out of order, and believed it to be an attempted swatting.
Burchett told WVLT News Monday that he and his family were not home at the time.
Burchett added that it was rare for them to be out around 5 p.m. on a Saturday, but they elected to go for an early dinner.
”It’s very dangerous, it’s a felony. If somebody ends up getting hurt, it’s going to be on them for the rest of their lives, and I’m not messing around. Take that for whatever you want to take it, but I hold my family very close to me,” said Burchett.
The Congressman said the E-911 director called him to confirm his address which tipped him off to the attempted swatting.
”They’re very serious. This is a time when being an elected official is harder than ever, yet we work for the people, and I think this is a cowardly act and one that is disgusting quite frankly,” said Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay.
Jay was one of about 35 people to receive the email.
The FBI has developed a new database for swatting incidents after a recent increase in the act.
Swatting is a form of harassment to deceive an emergency service provider into sending a police and emergency service response team to another person’s address due to the false reporting of a serious law enforcement emergency. The individuals who engage in this activity use technology, such as caller ID spoofing, social engineering, TTY, and prank calls to make it appear that the emergency call is coming from the victim’s phone. Traditionally, law enforcement has seen swatters directing their actions toward individuals and residences. Increasingly, the FBI sees swatters targeting public places such as airports, schools, and businesses. Another recent trend is so-called celebrity swatting, where the targeted victims are well-known personalities, according to the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. Story courtesy of WVLT
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Frequently Asked Questionsfrom the Knox County Election Commission
REGISTERING TO VOTE
The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming March 5, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary & Knox County Primary election is Monday, February 5, 2024. Voters can register:
in person at either Election Commission office (weekdays between 8 am and 4:30 pm), or
download a voter registration form https://knoxcounty.org/election/pdfs/VRF.pdf and mail it to the Knox County Election Commission. Voters utilizing this method must have it postmarked by February 5, 2024.
As of Sunday, January 28, 2024, Knox County has 299,269 registered voters.
PUBLIC MACHINE TEST
In preparation for the 2024 Presidential Preference & Knox County Primary, the Election Commission will conduct a required voting machine test on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 8:30 am at its Downtown West training and early voting location.The test is two to three hours in duration. Candidates, press, and the public are invited to attend.
CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
Candidates for local offices have campaign financial disclosures (CFD) due on the following dates:
Year-end CFD Wednesday, January 31, 2024 (covering the period July 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024)
Pre-Primary CFD Tuesday, February 27, 2024 (covering the period January 16 to February 24, 2024)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & CONCERNS REGARDING THE UPCOMING ELECTION
Q: I want to change my party registration from one party to another or from a party to Independent. How do I do that?
A: Voters in Tennessee DO NOT register by political party. Some states do register by party; Tennessee does not.
Q: I need to request a voter registration card – I was told I can’t vote, or I thought I can’t vote without it.
A: Actually, while we are happy to issue you a new voter registration card, you DO NOT NEED IT TO VOTE. A registered voter only needs a photo identification issued by the State of Tennessee (such as a driver’s license) or the federal government (such as a passport). The acceptable photo ID can be expired.
Q: I think I am already registered in Knox County – how can I find out for sure?
A: Visit www.knoxvotes.org and click on the Am I registered to vote? box on the home page.
Q: If I am registered to vote in my current county, do I need to register before every election?
A: No, registration is permanent in Tennessee, unless your voter registration is purged pursuant to Tennessee law. Examples of why an individual might be purged include:
Death of the voter
A felony conviction of the voter
A voter moves out of Knox County and registers in another county/state.
Q: If I am registered in another county in Tennessee, do I need to register in Knox County?
A: Yes. Registration in Tennessee is based on the county of residency.
Q: What do I do at the polling place when I go to vote?
A: When a voter enters the polling place, they will have to provide their photo ID to the registrar and confirm that they are a registered voter based on the information the Election Commission has on file. The voter will verify their name and address and will affirm that they are a registered and qualified voter in the precinct based on their residential address.
To obtain the ballot, our registrar will ask the voter “In which primary do you wish to vote?” The voter will respond and, after signing the application for ballot, will be forwarded to the ballot table where the correct paper ballot will be issued to the voter in exchange for the application for ballot.
The voter will proceed to a private booth/table to complete the ballot with a black or blue ink pen, and then will proceed to the ballot scanner to scan the ballot. After the voter scans the ballot, they are done.
Q: I don’t want to vote in a primary. I feel as though I am being disenfranchised.
A: The Election Commission, per the Knox County Charter and Tennessee law, conducts the primary elections for the political parties. As a voter, if you wish to not vote in a primary, you will have an opportunity to vote in the Knox County General Election on Thursday, August 1, 2024 and/or the State & Federal General Election (Presidential) on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Q: I don’t want people to know how I vote; that is none of their business.
A: The Election Commission does not know how anyone cast a ballot or who someone voted for; however, a voter’s voting history, including the elections in which a person has voted and the primary if a voter selects a primary, are all public record.
For more information on elections, visit the Election Commission at www.knoxvotes.org or call 865-215-2480.
Greene County, TN (WOKI) A pedestrian dies after a crash on Newport Highway in Greene County Monday morning.
A preliminary crash report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol states a 2005 BMW 325 was heading north on the highway when it crested a hill in the 4900 block.
The report indicates the BMW “was at the crest of a hill when it came across a pedestrian [who] was walking in the middle of the roadway on the double yellow lines”; the individual was hit by the vehicle and died as a result of the injuries.
The THP is working to identify the pedestrian.
The driver of the BMW was cited for driving on a suspended license, no insurance and swapping tags.
Registered to vote? Deadline for March 5, 2023 primary fast approaching in Knox County.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming March 5 Presidential Preference Primary and Knox County Primary elections is fast approaching.
Register in person at either Election Commission office, weekdays, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Download a voter registration form at https://knoxcounty.org/election/pdfs/VRF.pdf and mail it to the Knox County Election Commission. Should you choose this method, make sure the form is postmarked by February 5, 2024.
Knox County has over 299,000 registered voters.
For more information on elections, visit www.knoxvotes.org or call 865-215-2480.
We’d love your vote below in our new website poll question about if, and how much, you’re enjoying this Vols basketball season. Photo credit of Dalton Knecht image courtesy of UT Athletics.
991TheSportsAnimal.com Website Poll
991TheSportsAnimal.com Poll Question
Besides the QBs, which FIRST YEAR Vols football player will make the biggest impact on offense?
TBI News January 29,2024 At the request of 8th Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler, TBI special agents continue to investigate the circumstances that led to an officer-involved shooting Sunday night involving officers with the Jamestown Police Department.
Preliminary information indicates that just after 8:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Rugby Avenue in Jamestown following a 911 call reporting a man with a gun. When officers arrived, they encountered an armed individual. For reasons still under investigation, an officer fired, striking the person. The individual was transported to an area hospital for treatment. No officers were injured during the incident.
At this time, this investigation remains active and ongoing. TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
