Felon, Alleged Gang Member Gets 14 years for Gun Possession, DA Says

Felon, Alleged Gang Member Gets 14 years for Gun Possession, DA Says

December 1, 2023
Donald D. Kirkland, 42 (Courtesy: DA Charme Allen’s Office)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A convicted felon and alleged gang member is sentenced Friday in a 2021 Knoxville traffic stop.

Donald D. Kirkland, 42, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted violent felon and reckless endangerment.

According to the Knoxville District Attorney’s office, Kirkland was charged following a traffic stop in November of 2021 after a call came in to KPD about a drunk driver at the Weigels on Western Avenue. When officers arrived, they tracked the driver down on Western Avenue, prompting a chase.

Once officers were able to stop the car, the DA says, they found that Kirkland was driving and his passenger was overdosing. The Knoxville Fire Department treated the passenger, and KPD officers found a handgun in Kirkland’s pocket.

“Gang members caught with guns can expect to receive long sentences, especially when those gang members have violent criminal histories,” said DA Charme Allen.

Kirkland has a prior robbery conviction from 2007 and three drug trafficking convictions; he is also a reported member of the Crips street gang.

KPD: Officers Recover Five Guns from Convicted Felons after Shots Fired in North Knoxville

KPD: Officers Recover Five Guns from Convicted Felons after Shots Fired in North Knoxville

December 1, 2023
(Frankly Media)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police take two convicted felons into custody after confiscating five guns.

KPD responded to north Knoxville after getting a report of shots being fired on Forestdale Avenue early Friday morning.

Officers say the driver of a car told them that two people in his vehicle, identified as 21-year-old Alexander Foye and 36-year-old Buddy Blair, held a gun on him and had fired shots into the air.

Three AR-style pistols and two semi-automatic pistols were found; both suspects are charged with felon in possession of a weapon, and Foye was charged with aggravated kidnapping.

McMinnville Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

McMinnville Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

December 1, 2023
(Courtesy: TBI)

An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) squad, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the McMinnville Police Department has resulted in the arrest of a man charged with the sexual exploitation of a minor.

ICAC agents received a cybertip via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concerning a user of a messaging app who was engaging in sexual conversations with minors. During the course of the investigation, investigators identified the user as Eddie Pease. The investigation further revealed that Pease engaged in this behavior on various social media platforms.

On November 29th, TBI agents and McMinnville officers arrested Eddie Dwight Pease (DOB 05/23/1993). He was charged with Soliciting Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – Exploitation of a Minor by Electronic Means and was booked into the Warren County Jail on a $50,000 bond. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone who may have had communication with the username of eddiepease722 on Snapchat, or on TikTok, as Eddiesfoodreviews, eddiepease2024, or Eddieschristiancookingshow is asked to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Look Before You Click, National Park Service Investigates Online Scamming Attempt  

Look Before You Click, National Park Service Investigates Online Scamming Attempt  

December 1, 2023

The National Park Service (NPS) is investigating an online scam selling fraudulent parking tags to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Someone posing as the National Park Service is directing individuals and organizations to a website titled “Smokies Park Pass.” This website looks like it belongs to our park partner, Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA), but it is not a GSMA or NPS website. Please don’t visit or buy parking tags from this website.   

Official Great Smoky Mountains National Park parking tags are available for sale online ONLY through smokiesinformation.org or http://Recreation.gov.   

Thank you for continued support of Park It Forward. One hundred percent of the funds generated by park fees stay right here in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to improve visitor safety, increase park ranger presence and to repair, enhance and maintain public park facilities.  

TVA Plans Overnight Outage for the Jellico Area on Saturday

TVA Plans Overnight Outage for the Jellico Area on Saturday

November 30, 2023
(Courtesy: TVA)

Jellico, TN (WOKI) Utilities customers in the Jellico area will be without power for a time overnight Saturday, December 2.

Officials with Jellico Utilities say the Tennessee Valley Authority has scheduled a planned outage from 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2 to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 3.

They say the outage will impact all Jellico Utilities customers and that during the planned event, TVA will be conducting essential system maintenance.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this period. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and assure you that every effort will be made to minimize the duration of the interruption,” Jellico Utilities said. 

Knoxville Pet Sitter Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges

Knoxville Pet Sitter Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges

November 30, 2023
(Credit: Frankly Media)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A former Knoxville pet sitter has pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated cruelty to animals.

That plea coming nearly nine months after 38 pets were removed from the home of 23 year-old Haylee Morris. Court documents indicate Morris pleaded guilty to the two animal cruelty charges as well as a violation of the rabies vaccination law; she was sentenced to serve 3 years, 364 days of probation.

Morris’ plea agreement also stipulates that she be banned for life from owning companion animals and pay $34,000 in restitution to Young-Williams Animal Center, where she had adopted and fostered pets previously.

WOMAN’S REMAINS IDENTIFIED AFTER BEING FOUND IN ROANE COUNTY NEARLY FOUR DECADES AGO

WOMAN’S REMAINS IDENTIFIED AFTER BEING FOUND IN ROANE COUNTY NEARLY FOUR DECADES AGO

November 30, 2023

A woman whose remains were found in 1987 in Roane County has been identified as a result of a partnership between the Roane County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Unidentified Human Remains DNA Initiative.

On August 29, 1987, a body was discovered by a passer-by beside a garbage dumpster in the 2600 block of Highway 58 in Kingston. Forensic anthropologists determined that the remains were those of a white female, likely between the ages of 35 and 50. The victim had been burned after her death and discarded beside the dumpster. Investigators with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office worked to determine the identity of the victim through the use of technology available in 1987, but their efforts were not successful. After exhausting all leads, investigators could not determine the victim’s identity, and she was classified as a Jane Doe.

Attempts to identify the Roane County Jane Doe continued, and in April of 2009, the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Center submitted a sample of her remains to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in hopes that the woman would eventually be identified, but no developments occurred.

In April, as part of the Unidentified Human Remains DNA Initiative, TBI agents assisted the Roane County Sheriff’s Office by submitting a sample of the woman’s remains to Othram Inc., a private lab based in Texas, for forensic genetic genealogical (FGG) DNA testing. Scientists provided information about possible relatives connected to the woman.  Last month, agents made contact with one of those family members and obtained a familial DNA standard. That standard was then submitted to Othram for comparison against the DNA of the unidentified woman. Based on the DNA and forensic genealogy results, scientists at Othram confirmed that the unidentified remains belonged to Betty Lou Wisley (DOB: 12/30/1935), originally of Clinton, Missouri. It was further determined that Wisley was living in or near the Knox County area at the time of her death.

Now, Roane County Sheriff’s Office Investigators and TBI special agents are hoping the public can help piece together the events leading up to Betty Lou Wisley’s death. Anyone with information, specifically any knowledge about individuals she may have been with before her death, is asked to contact the Roane County Sheriff’s Office at 865-717-4722 or email tips to [email protected].

The 50th Annual WIVK Christmas Parade Will Be Tomorrow in Downtown Knoxville with a New Parade Route

The 50th Annual WIVK Christmas Parade Will Be Tomorrow in Downtown Knoxville with a New Parade Route

November 30, 2023
Photo courtesy of WVLT

Knoxville’s annual WIVK Christmas parade is returning for its 50th year tomorrow (Friday).

Over 120 parade displays will proceed along Gay Street including marching bands, church and community groups, small businesses and more.

The event is scheduled, rain or shine, for 7 p.m. It will also follow Knoxville’s new parade route, which has groups staging across the river and marching across the Gay Street Bridge, merging with more participants on side streets like Hill and Main.

Several roads will also close for the parade. The following roads will close to traffic at 4:30 p.m.:

Council Place
S. Gay Street between Council Place and Main Street
Hill Ave between Hall of Fame Drive and Walnut Street
Magnolia Avenue between N. Gay Street and S. Central Street


These roads will close to traffic at 5:30 p.m.:

S. Gay Street between Main Street and Cumberland Avenue
Main Street between Walnut Street and Gay Street


And these roads will close to traffic at 6:15 p.m.:

Gay Street between Cumberland Avenue and W. Fifth Avenue
Cumberland Avenue between Market Street and Gay Street
W. Church Avenue between Market Street and Gay Street
Union Avenue between Walnut Street and Gay Street
Market Street between Clinch Avenue and Union Avenue
Knoxville’s 50th annual WIVK Christmas parade returns this weekend
Knoxville’s 50th annual WIVK Christmas parade returns this weekend(City of Knoxville)

Downtown Knoxville parking garages will offer free parking after 6 p.m.

Courtesy of WVLT
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is Investigating a Fatal Shooting in North Knox County

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is Investigating a Fatal Shooting in North Knox County

November 30, 2023

An investigation is underway after a man dies at the hospital from a gunshot wound.

Knox County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 6500 block of Old Maynardville Pike yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and found a man with gunshot wounds who was taken to the hospital. They say this appears to be an isolated/targeted incident.

KCSO is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone in that area at Brown Gap with video surveillance to contact them.

Please call Major Crimes Detectives at 865-215-2243 if you have any information.

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