Knoxville Police Identify the Victim in a Fatal Hit and Run Crash on Chapman Highway

Knoxville Police Identify the Victim in a Fatal Hit and Run Crash on Chapman Highway

Update: The victim from a fatal hit-and-run crash on Chapman Highway has been identified.

Knoxville Police say 61 year-old Arthur Harvey was killed January 2nd. KPD has spoken to the driver who left the scene of the crash and remains in contact with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, who will make the decision regarding prosecution.

Original Press Releases from KPD: KPD Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash on Chapman Highway (January 2, 2024) Following comprehensive investigation, and with the assistance of Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, the suspect from Tuesday night’s fatal hit-and-run collision on Chapman Highway was identified and located earlier this evening. The involved vehicle was also recovered. KPD detectives and fatal accident investigators are in discussions with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office concerning charges.

KPD NEWS RELEASE: KPD Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash on Chapman Highway (January 2, 2024)

A hit-and-run crash investigation is underway after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a vehicle on Chapman Highway on Tuesday evening. 

At around 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a crash involving a pedestrian on Chapman Highway near E. Moody Avenue. Officers arrived on scene, where an unidentified man had been struck by an unknown vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, it is believed that a pickup truck driving south on Chapman Highway struck the victim as he was attempting to cross from in front of the Walgreens. The truck, possibly a dark red Ford F-150, then continued south on Chapman Highway following the collision. 

Efforts remain ongoing to identify the involved vehicle and driver. The victim from the crash was transported to the Regional Forensic Center for further examination and attempts to identify. 

The crash remains under active investigation by KPD crash reconstruction investigators. Anyone with information that could assist with that investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous. 

The Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating a Fire at a Senior Living Center

The Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating a Fire at a Senior Living Center

The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating a fire at Atria Weston Place on Lakebrook Blvd.

The fire was reported earlier today but is now out. The fire was limited to one room and its contents.

Residents were evacuated and taken to the Red Cross building on Middlebrook Pike for temporary shelter. One staff member was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Knoxville Police say a Suspect is in Custody and the Murder Victim is Identified after Body is Found in a Western Heights Apartment

Knoxville Police say a Suspect is in Custody and the Murder Victim is Identified after Body is Found in a Western Heights Apartment

The Knoxville Police department has identified the victim in a fatal shooting.

39 year-old Andrea Moore was found dead in a Western Heights apartment in the 1400 block of W. Oldham Avenue on Friday afternoon. Police were searching for
Reginald Depriest, who is charged with First-degree murder in connection to this case, but he turned himself late Friday night.

Original Press Release:

UPDATE: Reginald Depriest turned himself in late last (Saturday) night and is now in custody.

KPD NEWS RELEASE: Suspect Charged in Death of Woman at Western Heights Apartment

Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit detectives have obtained a warrant charging Reginald Depriest, 26, with first-degree murder in connection to the death of a woman at a Western Heights apartment on Friday afternoon. 

At around 4:10 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024, KPD officers responded to an apartment at 1423 W. Oldham Avenue, where a woman was found unresponsive inside the apartment. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. 

KPD Homicide Unit detectives and Crime Lab personnel responded to the scene for further investigation. 

Leads developed in the course of the investigation led to the identification of Depriest as the suspect. Efforts remain ongoing to locate Depriest. 

Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous. 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Says Missing, Endangered Teen is Found Out of State

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Says Missing, Endangered Teen is Found Out of State

Update: The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says 16 year-old Kaitlynn Marie Van-Auken has been found safe in South Carolina.

Original story: The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help to find an endangered, missing teen.

16-year-old Kaitlynn Marie Van-Auken, who goes by Marie, was last seen early Saturday morning in the Middlebrook Pike and N. Gallagher View area.

She is 16 years old with brown hair with green/blue tips and is 5’1”, and weighs about 130 pounds.

Anyone with information, contact the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives at 865-215-2243.

Blount Co Sheriff’s Office Warning of Pervasive Telephone Scam

Blount Co Sheriff’s Office Warning of Pervasive Telephone Scam

(Courtesy: BCSO Facebook)

Maryville, TN (WOKI) Authorities in Blount County continue getting the word out about a telephone scam plaguing the area.

Sheriff’s deputies are warning, once again, that a scammer is leaving voicemails posing as Lt. James Perry from the Civil Service Division. If you get this call, it IS a scam.

The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says they do not have a James Perry working for them, and they do not have a Civil Service Division. They advise, if you get this call . . . HANG UP!

Sheriff’s Office: 15-Year-Old Dead Following ‘Accidental Shooting’ in Rockwood

Sheriff’s Office: 15-Year-Old Dead Following ‘Accidental Shooting’ in Rockwood

(Frankly Media)

Rockwood, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Roane County after a 15-year-old is fatally wounded Tuesday in what police suspect may have been an accidental shooting.

Officials with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office say the shooting happened around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 2 at a home in Rockwood. They say the victim may have shot himself accidentally.

RCSO has yet to release the full circumstances surrounding the shooting or the identities of anyone involved.

KFD: Passerby Credited with Saving Lives after Warning Strangers Their Knoxville Home was on Fire

KFD: Passerby Credited with Saving Lives after Warning Strangers Their Knoxville Home was on Fire

Knoxville Fire Department crews respond to a fire at a home on Jefferson Avenue in East Knoxville Thursday (Courtesy: KFD)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Fire Department is crediting a passerby who warned strangers that their house was on fire Thursday, possibly saving their lives.

Mark Wilbanks with KFD says that crews responded to the home on Jefferson Avenue Thursday afternoon. Once there, crews learned that someone walking by had seen that the attic was on fire and warned the people inside. That Good Samaritan then left the scene.

The home’s smoke detectors didn’t go off, Wilbanks said, because of how high the fire was in the house.

No one was injured, but the house was heavily damaged in the attic and porch areas. Another home saw minor damage because of the heat of the flames.

Morristown Arson Suspect Planned to Burn More Buildings, Warrant Says

Morristown Arson Suspect Planned to Burn More Buildings, Warrant Says

Jeffrey Scott Cicirelli was arrested and charged with arson, reckless endangerment, burglary and vandalism. (Courtesy: MPD)

Morristown, TN (WOKI)

Investigators in Hamblen County say the man charged with setting fire to a downtown building, also planned to start more fires.

According to a warrant, police found Jeffery Scott Cicirelli at a Morristown hotel where he admitted to setting the fire in the Parks-Belk building earlier this week and also said he planned to set more buildings on fire.

The building, burned, was valued at more than a quarter of a million dollars and was part of a plan to renovate much of downtown Morristown.

Woman Found Safe after TBI Issues Silver Alert

Woman Found Safe after TBI Issues Silver Alert

Stephaine Harvey, 26 is located and is safe, says TBI (Courtesy: TBI)

Sevierville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Silver Alert for a missing Sevier County woman has been canceled.

TBI had issued the alert Friday morning for 26-year-old Stephaine Harvey. TBI officials report Harvey has been located and is safe.

Harvey had last been seen Thursday night, on foot, in the area of Lloyd Huskey Road in Pigeon Forge.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Silver Alert for a missing Sevier County woman.

Police are asking for help finding 26-year-old Stephaine Harvey who has a medical condition that may impair her ability to return safely without assistance.

Police are asking for help finding 26-year-old Stephaine Harvey. (Courtesy: TBI)

Harvey was last seen Thursday night, on foot, in the area of Lloyd Huskey Road in Pigeon Forge; she was wearing a black and white plaid jacket and dark jeans.

Harvey is described as 5′8″, 130 pounds, w/ brown hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information about Stephaine, call the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office at 865-453-4668 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

UT Medical Center Implements Visitor Restrictions

UT Medical Center Implements Visitor Restrictions

(Courtesy: UT Medical Center)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The University of Tennessee Medical Center is implementing visitor restrictions due to an increase in flu and COVID activity.

UTMC announced this week that anyone under the age of 12 and anyone exhibiting signs of illness are restricted from visiting patients at this time. Signs of illness include cough, congestion, and stomach upset. This restriction does not include those seeking care.

Data released by the CDC late last month placed Tennessee among the states with “very high” levels of respiratory illness, to include influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.