A man is facing multiple charges after taking a minor from Claiborne County to Pennsylvania without permission.
On Saturday, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office contacted Authorities in Pennsylvania about a missing child.
WVLT reporting that an investigation by CCSO revealed that 18 year-old Talen Bruce, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, drove to Tennessee, picked up the minor and took her back to Pennsylvania without parental permission.
Bruce and the child were found at a motel in Upper Allen, Pennsylvania.
Bruce was arrested and charged with multiple charges:
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is putting out a Silver Alert for a man who hasn’t been seen in a year.
70 year-old Audi Harness from Scott County was last seen on May 4th of last year. Officials say he has a medical condition that may make it difficult for him to return safely without help.
If you know anything about where he may please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, TN (WOKI/TWRA)— On the morning of May 18, 2025, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded to a report of a sow black bear that had been struck and killed by a vehicle along U.S. Highway 19E in Sullivan County. The response led to the successful rescue and release of three orphaned bear cubs into a remote area of the Cumberland Mountains.
TWRA received the initial call around 7:00 a.m. and had personnel enroute within 30 minutes. By 8:30 a.m., officers were on the scene, but no cubs were immediately visible. Additional staff arrived with trapping equipment, and the deceased female bear was removed from the accident site. Three traps were then set in the area.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., a local resident provided a video showing three bear cubs on the same side of the road as the traps and the sow. This visual confirmation verified that the animals were indeed cubs and not older yearlings.
The first cub was safely captured shortly after the video was shared, and by 4:00 p.m., all three cubs had been secured. They were then transported to a Wildlife Management Area for evaluation and temporary care.
The cubs—two females and one male—appear to be in good health and are considered large for their age, each weighing around 12 pounds. They are able to climb trees, are wary of humans, and have been eating well. “While this is not an ideal situation, our goal is to give these cubs the best possible chance at survival,” said TWRA Bear Program Manager Dan Gibbs. “We have released them in a low-density bear area with minimal human presence to maximize their chances of adapting and thriving in the wild.”
TWRA is continuing to coordinate with Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR); however, ABR is currently unable to accept cubs at this time.
The agency urges drivers to stay alert in areas with frequent wildlife crossings, especially in spring and summer when bear activity increases, and to follow BearWise practices to prevent bears from crossing roads in search of human food.
Sevier County, TN (WOKI) A Sevier County man is facing charges after a standoff with police Sunday on Cee Cee Way.
Officials with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office say officers responded around 8:00 p.m. to the 900 block of Cee Cee Way for a domestic assault call after receiving reports that 43-year-old Jose Gallegos Galean-Maria may have been inside the house with a gun and four-year-old child.
SCSO says Pigeon Forge SWAT, Sevierville SWAT and the Sevier County Ambulance Service joined the sheriff’s office in the response.
“I want the Sevier County community to know that the dedication and inter-agency teamwork of these officers and detectives, who willingly answer these dangerous calls time after time, are remarkable,” Sheriff Michael Hodges said. “They work together, they are committed, and they care very deeply. I am proud to work alongside these folks.”
Galean-Maria was charged with aggravated domestic assault and theft.
According to officials with the sheriff’s office, the incident occurred Sunday around 8:00 p.m. in the 900 block of Cee Cee Way. (Courtesy: SCSO)
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI) A student in Monroe County is without their flute after a “serial vehicle burglar” broke into several cars over the weekend in Sweetwater.
Officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reporting a total of eight cases related to the break-ins occurred between Friday night and early Saturday morning.
“The suspect(s) smashed vehicle windows and rummaged through several vehicles taking valuables and tools,” Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones said in a news release. “In one incident a child’s flute was taken that was used for band and needed for upcoming band events.”
Now, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Sweetwater Police Department are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects, who were caught on video.
Those with information can call the Sweetwater Police Department at (423) 337-6151 or the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at (423) 442-5002 Ext. 5.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Board of Education is asking for public input as board members near the finishing stages of making the district’s new strategic plan.
The plan will set the district’s objectives for the next five years, and parents and community members are being asked to fill out a survey to give feedback on the district’s goals.
The survey asks you to rank and prioritize certain Knox County Schools goals. On the lengthy list are objectives such as graduation rates, work experience, and academic targets.
Click here to access the survey to offer your feedback.
The plan will set the district’s objectives for the next five years. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Two firefighters are injured while battling a house fire in West Knox County.
Jeff Bagwell with Rural Metro Fire says fire crews went to the fire in the 8200 block of Elm Hill Circle Saturday afternoon.
There was heavy fire in the attic of a two-story home. The home sustained heavy fire damage.
No one was at home at the time of the fire, but two firefighters were injured, one of whom was taken to the hospital. Neither appeared to be seriously injured.
Rural Metro Fire is working to determine the cause of a house fire in the 7300 block of Hammer Road.
When crews arrived on the scene Saturday there was heavy fire coming from a rear window.
The home suffered heavy smoke damage.
No injuries were reported and the residents were not home at the time of the fire.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (story courtesy of WVLT) – Deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office took a wanted fugitive into custody early Saturday morning.
According to Sheriff Tommy Jones, Dakota Narciso Rowe was wanted on several charges and considered armed and dangerous. But early Saturday morning, deputies went to a home in Tellico Plains and arrested him.
Jones said Rowe was wanted on the following:
Three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (one count was against a child under the age of one) Theft of property Aggravated burglary (Home invasion with a firearm) Reckless endangerment (with a firearm) Interference with a 911 call Employment of a firearm during the commission of a felony
“We are very thankful for all of the tips and information provided by our vigilant citizens. Thank you!” Jones said.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WOKI-TWRA) On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) officers responded to three serious incidents in Campbell County, including a fatal boating accident on Norris Lake and two off-highway vehicle (OHV) crashes on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA).
At approximately 5:49 p.m., TWRA dispatch received a call from Campbell County 911 reporting a boating incident near a private dock on Norris Lake. A 75-year-old male fell from a boat, briefly submerging before being pulled from the water unresponsive. CPR was initiated by bystanders and continued by emergency personnel. The victim was transported to Campbell County Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. The next of kin was notified at the hospital. This marks the eighth fatal boating incident investigated by TWRA officers so far this year.
Shortly before the boating incident, at approximately 5:45 p.m., officers responded to an OHV crash in the Red Ash area of the NCWMA near Old Highway 63. A side-by-side OHV was being loaded onto a trailer when it fell off the edge and rolled down an embankment, trapping the operator beneath it. The victim was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
A second OHV crash occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Tower Road near the Cross Mountain trailhead. A four-wheeler left the roadway and crashed into a rocky area, rendering the operator unconscious. TWRA officers located the injured individual, coordinated with EMS, and identified a suitable landing zone for a medical helicopter. The patient was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and is expected to recover.
Members of the LaFollette Rescue Squad and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office assisted in both rescue operations.
