Tazewell Police arrest and charge a man with assault on a police officer, drug possession and other charges after responding to a call at a Taco Bell.
Police called to the North Broad Street location for a man, Jeremy Sulfridge, acting unusual and found him bent down behind the counter with stacks of free taco coupons and a key attempting to gain entry into the restaurant’s safe. They found a small amount of marijuana and the men’s restroom soap dispenser in his pants during a search.
Sulfridge tried to escape police custody multiple times.
During the first half of 2023, homeless service providers and volunteers in Knoxville and Knox County conducted three important annual assessments: (1) the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of people experiencing homelessness; (2) an assessment of bed availability for homeless services called the Housing Inventory Count (HIC); and (3) the Youth Point-in-Time (YPIT) Count of youth ages 18 to 24 experiencing homelessness.
The annual PIT count of individuals experiencing homelessness was conducted on January 25. This count provides a snapshot of how many people were experiencing homelessness on a single night, at one point in time. Because some people may experience homelessness briefly at any point during the year, a cumulative number of everyone experiencing homelessness throughout the whole year will be much larger than this single snapshot. A team of 30 volunteers recorded a total of 925 people who were in “literally homeless” housing situations. This includes people living in sheltered situations (residing in an emergency shelter or transitional housing) and unsheltered situations (residing in tents, cars or other places not meant for human habitation).
Between 2022 and 2023 there was a 21% decrease in the number of people counted as homeless during the Point-in-Time count (from 1178 to 925). Most of the decrease resulted from reduced federal funding for sheltering people and families in hotels: the number of clients sheltered in hotels dropped from 228 to 59. The decrease was also driven by an observed reduction in unsheltered homelessness on the night of each year’s count (from 373 in 2022 to 223 in 2023). Despite a year-over-year 40% decrease in unsheltered homelessness, this year’s unsheltered count is still 29% higher than the average count for the past ten years (173). The last three years have been the highest on record. These increases coincide with increased staffing for street outreach, allowing for a more accurate count overall.
“In contrast to sheltered counts, unsheltered counts should always be viewed as the floor, not the ceiling. The unsheltered count is a baseline understanding, not the total number of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in a given community,” says Shawn Griffith, Program Manager at the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability. “Unsheltered individuals often stay in out-of-the-way places that are difficult to find, they often move (or are forced to move) from one location to another, and many transition fluidly over time between tent, shelter and precarious housing situations.”
The HIC is conducted each year on the same night as the PIT count, and measures bed availability in emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent housing programs. On January 25, 2023, emergency shelters were 92% full (500 of 542 beds occupied); transitional housing was 73% full (198 of 271 beds occupied); and permanent supportive housing facilities were 96% full (304 of 317 beds occupied).
The YPIT was completed in April 2023. Partners and volunteers counted a total of 68 unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing. Unlike the general PIT Count, the YPIT also includes youth in precarious housing situations such as staying temporarily on couches with friends or extended family.
Of the youth who responded to the full survey, two-thirds (34/51) reported a history of domestic violence, and nearly four out of five (39/50) expressed mental health challenges. Nearly 40% (19/49) had been in foster care. That same percentage, 40%, identify as LGBTQ+ (19/49). The count was conducted with leadership from the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition, Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, KnoxHMIS (Knox Homeless Management Information System), and the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition’s Youth Action Board, composed of youth with lived experience of homelessness.
Homeless services organizations in Knoxville and Knox County are working hard to help. “KnoxHMIS data indicate that nearly 4,000 homeless clients have been housed since 2020. But for every homeless individual who is successfully housed, three remain unhoused or exit to unknown destinations,” says Nate First, Program Director of KnoxHMIS (Homeless Management Information System) and Chair of the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition.
“Homelessness continues to be a big issue,” says Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “There’s a lot of money and resources flowing into this area and our goal is to use it as effectively as possible. Further, we have a responsibility to the taxpayers to make sure we use the money as wisely as possible.”
According to https://knoxhmis.sworpswebapp.sworps.utk.edu/dashboard/, 65% of households new to homelessness in the second quarter of 2023 listed job loss or housing scarcity/affordability as the primary reason for their homelessness. Another 24% were fleeing domestic violence or nonviolent family confrontations. Only 8% reported legal issues and struggles with mental health or substance misuse as the cause of their homelessness.
“Homelessness is a bellwether issue for any community: its roots extend deep into the housing market, the job market, and the economy as a whole. It’s important for us to know the extent of the problem, as well as the reasons people are falling into homelessness,” says Erin Read, the Executive Director of the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability. “With this knowledge we can tailor programs and policies to address our housing and social needs.”
Since 2019, the City of Knoxville has invested more than $38 million on the creation of affordable housing units and leveraged $500 million in other public and private investments. The result, when everything is completed, will be more than 2,000 units available to residents with incomes below the average area income.
“We are investing more in affordable housing than any previous administration,” says City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. “Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach, and while we know there is still a lot of work to be done, each project does make a difference. We are committed to continuing that progress.”
Knox County officially unveiled its draft Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan, which is available online at https://advanceknox.org/ .
Knox County began working on the plan almost two years ago, collecting data and seeking feedback from stakeholders and the public.
The process – dubbed “Advance Knox” – is data driven to create a plan that guides growth, land use, transportation, economic prosperity, and quality of life for years to come. A project team analyzed population growth projections, land availability, and infrastructure conditions to identify areas of Knox County that should be preserved and areas that are appropriate for new growth.
The resulting plan defines new types of places for future development, provides an updated land use map and transportation recommendations, identifies priority investment areas for new park facilities, and outlines policy recommendations.
“I am excited to see Advance Knox move into the adoption phase,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “This process has helped us create a plan that prioritizes smart growth and infrastructure maintenance so that we can maintain our quality of life and unique identity while continuing to welcome new residents.”
The next step is for the Growth Policy Coordinating Committee to update the county’s Growth Policy Plan, which will begin during the public meeting on Oct. 24. From there, the plan will go to the Knox County Commission, Knoxville City Council, and Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen for adoption.
After the updated Growth Policy Plan is adopted, the draft Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan will be considered by the Planning Commission. Knox County Commission will have the final vote, which is expected to happen in early 2024.
For more information about Advance Knox, including the draft Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan, resources from the planning process, and information about the Growth Policy Plan, please visit https://advanceknox.org/or contact the project team at [email protected].
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and other elected leaders are again encouraging residents to sign up for the community-wide “e-warning” notification system designed to keep users informed and safe during an emergency.
“We encourage all members of the community to sign up for ‘Knox County Alerts,’” Mayor Jacobs said. “These systems have saved lives in other areas.”
The county established an emergency warning system more than a decade ago to help ensure that residents are alerted to public safety emergencies in the area. The warning system, powered by Everbridge, can send alerts via text, email, or voice call. The warnings include but are not limited to severe weather, natural disasters, hazmat, and more. Users also can choose the locations for alerts, such as a home or work address.
The system will automatically relay weather warnings from the National Weather Service such as Severe Thunderstorm Warnings or Tornado Warnings and it can also be used by Knox 911 to send alerts for things like chemical spills or law enforcement emergencies.
To register, please click https://knoxcounty.org/alert/. Anyone who does not have internet access can register by phone at 311 or (865) 215-4311.
Knoxville Police are working leads in a Western Heights murder and asking you to come forward if you have any information.
Officers were called to UT Medical Center on October 4th for a shooting victim, 47-year-old Dorian Steeley, who arrived in a personal vehicle and later died.
Investigators say the shooting happened a home on the 1300 block of Stair Avenue.
KPD says they believe the shooting was drug-motivated and believe there were multiple witnesses to the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
A teen missing out of Blount County has been found dead in his car which had crashed into Chilhowee Lake.
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says this is not the outcome they’d hoped for.
18 year-old Garrett McAmis was last heard from Friday night after texting a friend that he was at a pull-off on The Dragon and was having trouble breathing.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Original Story: The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is requesting help in locating a missing teen.
Garrett McAmis, 18, was last seen on Friday night. BCSO took the missing persons report on Sunday after a family member reported McAmis had not returned home.
According to BCSO, a family member said a friend of McAmis received a text message from him around 11:30 p.m. on Friday saying he was located at a pull-off on The Dragon, an area of U.S. Highway 129 also known as Calderwood Highway. The friend also said that McAmis was having difficulty breathing, according to police.
McAmis was last seen driving a silver 2012 Kia Sorento with Tennessee plates BQF1385. He is described as a white male, 18-years-old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 122 pounds with green eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie with a rose graphic and black pants. McAmis may also have a cast on his right hand. He lives on Calderwood Highway.
Deputies and family members are currently searching the area of the highway where McAmis was last seen. McAmis does have a medical condition that may make it challenging for him to get back home on his own.
If you have seen McAmis, his car, or have any information on his location, BCSO asks that you call Blount County Investigations at 865-273-5001 during normal business hours, or call Blount County Communications anytime at 865-983-3620. (Story courtesy of WVLT)
Knoxville Police arrest a woman on numerous charges following a suspected carjacking, break-in, motor vehicle theft and assault.
Police arrested 26-year-old Tesia Taylor following incidents that happened in West Knoxville Friday night.
KPD first responding to The Abigail apartments after Taylor reportedly entered an apartment, demanded money and assaulted a resident, a 38-year-old man who was treated for a head injury.
Taylor then reported stole a car from the parking lot then crashed near the intersection of Kingston Pike and Leonard Rogers Street where she allegedly got into the passenger seat of another car and demanded that the driver get out, then crashed that vehicle in the intersection of Kingston Pike and Montvue Road where she was taken into custody.
Taylor is charged with aggravated assault, carjacking, criminal trespassing, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, motor vehicle theft and vandalism with additional charges possibly pending.
