Knoxville Police are Investigating a Deadly Early Morning Shooting in North Knoxville

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Deadly Early Morning Shooting in North Knoxville

Updated Information: The victim from the fatal crash that happened on Rutledge Pike on Sunday morning has been identified as Michael Eastridge, 52 of Knoxville, Tennessee. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Crash reconstruction investigators also believe that the poor condition of the vehicle’s tires was a contributing factor in the crash.

Original Story: Knoxville Police are investigating a deadly shooting at a home in North Knoxville.

Officers responding to the 5700 of Chesswood Drive early this morning (Monday) on reports of shots fired in the home and they found a man who had been shot at least once, who was pronounced at the scene.

KPD says the suspected shooter was known to the victim. The suspect was detained at the scene then taken in for questioning.

The circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation.

Newport Police: Murder Suspect Arrested after Body of Missing Woman Found on Highway

Newport Police: Murder Suspect Arrested after Body of Missing Woman Found on Highway

Jerrod Martin (Courtesy: Newport Police Department)

Newport, TN (WOKI) Newport police arrest a murder suspect Thursday, January 18 after finding the body of a missing woman along a highway in Cosby.

Murder suspect Jerrod Martin was arrested Thursday in connection to the disappearance and murder of Michelle Johnson of Newport who was reported missing on January 9.

Newport Police Department officials say Martin lead NPD and TBI investigators to the location where he disposed of Johnson’s body; her body was recovered along US-321 near Limestone Way in Cosby.

Martin is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. He is being held in Hancock County for charges out of that county, and a hold has been placed on his transfer to Cocke County.

No further details have been released as the investigation is still ongoing.

KPD: Woman Found Dead Outside Apartment Complex Near Old City

KPD: Woman Found Dead Outside Apartment Complex Near Old City

(Frankly Media)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Officials with the Knoxville Police Department are confirming the discovery of a dead woman outside of an apartment complex near Old City.

Officials say police along with the Knoxville Fire Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office responded around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 17 to the complex at 246 Hall of Fame Drive. They say the woman was 50 years old.

Her cause of death has not been released; however, police say no initial signs of foul play were found.

KAT Buses Suspend Operations Due to Dangerous Road Conditions

KAT Buses Suspend Operations Due to Dangerous Road Conditions

KAT buses suspend operations due to dangerous road conditions (Courtesy: WVLT)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) announces it is suspending operations for the rest of the day Friday due to dangerous road conditions.

KAT representatives say safety is their number one priority, and the roads are too icy to operate city buses safely.

KAT says it plans to operate severe snow routes tomorrow Saturday, January 20 with the first lineup at 11:15 a.m. and the last lineup at 8:15 p.m.; however, the schedule is subject to change after road conditions are re-evaluated on Saturday.

To stay updated on the latest from KAT, click here.

The Number of Weather-Related Deaths Continues to Rise in Tennessee as Well as Costs

The Number of Weather-Related Deaths Continues to Rise in Tennessee as Well as Costs

Image Courtesy of KPD

Updated Story: The weather related deaths from the snow and ice that hit our area a week ago has risen.

The state says the death is now at 27, four of those in Knox County, two in Roane County, one in Anderson County and two in Washington County.

The state says weather related deaths include many different situations like hypothermia, exposure, falling through ice and drowning which is determined by the Medical Examiner.

How much will clearing the streets and Knox County cost?

Crews across East Tennessee have been hard at work plowing streets and laying down salt as snow fell last Monday and cold temperatures hampered progress.

Jim Snowden with Knox County says they estimated they spent nearly $250,000 on salt alone, and after the reviews of equipment damages and equipment repairs, the expenditures would most likely top $300,000.

Officials with the City of Knoxville say preliminary numbers were only available through this past Wednesday and were only for public services like employee overtime and resource purchases which were more than $335,000 with totals expected to be released mid-week.

Original Story: The Tennessee Department of Health says more people have died due to below freezing temperatures after a winter storm hit Tennessee this week.

The TDH says two new deaths occurred in Marshall County and one in Roane County, bringing the total of weather-related deaths to 17.

Extreme cold weather is expected to linger through the weekend, with temperatures in the teens on Saturday. Ice also continues to be a problem on the roadways.

Officials continue to urge residents to stay off the roads and out of the frigid temperatures.

Knoxville Police Arrest a Teen in Connection to the Car-Jacking of an USPS Worker

Knoxville Police Arrest a Teen in Connection to the Car-Jacking of an USPS Worker

Knoxville Police say one of the two people accused of carjacking a USPS truck has been arrested.

18 year-old Kemian Strawder was arrested at the Hardee’s on Clinton Highway yesterday (Thursday), Officers found him with a loaded handgun.

He is wanted in connection to the December 6th carjacking on Dandridge Avenue of the USPS worker at gunpoint.

Strawder is wanted on multiple charges including carjacking, aggravated assault and weapon charges. He is also wanted for aggravated assault in connection to an unrelated incident.

Police are still searching for the second unidentified suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.

Knoxville Warming Center Reaches Capacity, Guests Being Moved

Knoxville Warming Center Reaches Capacity, Guests Being Moved

Knoxville warming center reaches capacity, guests being moved (Courtesy: WOKI / WABI)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Vestal United Methodist Church warming center in Knoxville has reached capacity.

City of Knoxville officials making that announcement Thursday afternoon, adding that guests were being moved to the South Knoxville Community Center.

The city is asking that people needing a warm place to stay make their way to the community center at 522 Maryville Pike instead of the church.

Additionally, warming centers across the Knoxville area are also in need of donations. Representatives with Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) put our a request this week asking for food and hand warmers to pass out to visitors as KARM drivers cannot get on the roads to pick up supplies.

Knox County Trash Collection Will Pickup Extra Waste after Snow Storm

Knox County Trash Collection Will Pickup Extra Waste after Snow Storm

Knox County officials say Waste Connections will be picking up extra trash after roads become less dangerous, even if that trash doesn’t fit. (photos-public-domain.com)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) If your trash has been piling up over the last week, there is some good news.

Knox County officials say that Waste Connections, the county’s contracted trash hauler, will be picking up extra trash after roads become less dangerous, even if that trash doesn’t fit in your trash can.

They say all that extra stuff can be bagged up and left next to your trash can for trucks to pick up on the next collection day.

As for recycling, Waste Connections says place overflow recyclables in a cardboard box or clearly-marked recycling container and place it next to your recycling bin.

Waste Connections says they’re monitoring roads to figure out when the next collection day will be.

Knox County Driver’s License Reinstatement Resource Fair Postponed

Knox County Driver’s License Reinstatement Resource Fair Postponed

You will have to wait a little longer if you are planning to attend the Knox County driver’s license reinstatement event this weekend.

The Knox County Criminal Court Office says they’re postponing their license reinstatement resource fair scheduled for Saturday due to weather. They are pushing it into February, with the date to be determined. So far, more than 1000 people have signed up.

Over 70,000 eligible drivers in Knox County don’t have their license, that’s the second highest number in a county in Tennessee.