The man accused of stabbing the driver of a garbage truck during a reported “car-jacking” is now facing federal charges.
43-year-old, Shawn White was arrested in Sevier County after crashing the truck into a business. He is now charged federally with carjacking. He is also charged with multiple felonies and is scheduled to be in court today for a bond hearing.
Monday’s incident started in Fountain City after White allegedly stabbed a woman and stole her car, crashing it before getting into Marcus Pickle’s truck stabbing him in the face, arm and hand and injuring his knee when he jumped from that moving truck.
Campbell County, TN (WOKI) A man is arrested and charged as part of a shooting investigation in Campbell County.
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office officials say 30 year-old Avery Anthony Bowens was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with three counts of attempted criminal homicide and three counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping in connection to a shooting in the Grantsboro area.
CCSO says deputies responded to Country Oaks Lane August 4 on a report of someone firing rifle rounds at a car. Investigators eventually identified Bowens as a suspect.
After taking him into custody, they also searched Bowens’ home, finding more evidence connecting him to the attempted shooting.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A person has been charged in Monday’s deadly crash that happened on I-40 East near Papermill Drive.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 36 year-old Shannon Glasper lost control of her Honda sedan and hit a Dodge truck pulling a camper around 2:00 a.m. The truck then flipped over the wall, coming to rest on the ramp to Papermill Drive.
A passenger in the truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police report Glasper showed signs of being intoxicated; she is charged with vehicular homicide.
Knox County, TN (WOKI) District 3 Knox County Commissioner Gina Oster is asking for the public’s help as neighborhoods in West Knox County , including hundreds of residents displaced from Lovell Crossing Apartments, work to recover from Monday’s devastating EF2 tornado.
Gina Oster, District 3 Knox County Commissioner (Courtesy: Knox County Commission)
“Lovell Crossing Apartments are in terrible shape,” said District 3 County Commissioner Gina Oster.
Speaking with WOKI Wednesday, Oster shared the needs of those displaced at Lovell Crossing who are prohibited from returning to their apartments while the power is out.
“They [the Apartments] are taking donations, collections at their office. They are there from 8:00 to 5:00, and they are handing those out to their residents who can’t get back into their apartments. [Residents] need water, diapers, toothbrushes, restaurant gift cards (that they can hand out), plastic bags . . . that kind of stuff. Just to get them up and going until we can get the power back on.”
Though utility crews are working feverishly to restore power, Oster said “a lot of people in District 3 are suffering right now.”
Oster said the Bob Gray neighborhood was also gravely impacted. “Their utilities were destroyed, millions of dollars worth of infrastructure. It’s really causing a problem with power.”
Oster says the county “is stepping up,” but is asking for the public’s assistance as well by way of donations and recovery assistance in damaged neighborhoods.
You may donate items for residents displaced at Lovell Crossing Apartments, directly through the office, between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00, or you may contact Commissioner Oster online at Gina Oster or via telephone at (865) 343-1639.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee more details for a highly-anticipated special session on public safety.
The special session will begin on August 21 at 4 p.m., according to a proclamation by the Governor.
His proclamation states the General Assembly will consider and act upon a slew of legislation regarding mental health resources, school safety plans and policies along with much more.
“As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “In the months leading up to the public safety special session, we have listened to Tennesseans and worked with members of the General Assembly to identify thoughtful, practical measures to strengthen public safety across our state, including steps to support law enforcement, address mental health, prevent violent crime and stop human trafficking. I thank the General Assembly for its continued partnership and look forward to achieving meaningful results for Tennesseans.”
Lee says he will be presenting legislative and budget priorities during the special session.
“In addition to bringing the following solutions in the administration package, the Governor will continue to work with members of the General Assembly on other legislation specified in the call,” Lee’s office says in a press release.
Codification of EO 100 and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Report Implementation: Requires reporting of accurate, complete and timely records from court clerks to the TBI within 72-hours and requires electronic submissions of dispositions and expungements to the TBI
TennCare Mental Health Coverage Waiver: Directs TennCare to seek a waiver from the federal government to allow federal matching funds for Medicaid to cover services for mental illness and substance use disorders at institutions of mental diseases
Addressing Mental Health Workforce Challenges: Budget initiatives that prioritize opportunities to grow and retain mental health professionals in the state
Reforms for Mental Health: Expands access to mental health treatment by eliminating certain collaborative practice requirements for Advanced Registered Practice Nurses with psychiatric training
Strengthening the Identification of Individuals Arrested for Felonies: Provides for the collection of DNA at the time of an arrest for all felonies
Human Trafficking Report: Resolution directing TBI to report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee
Promoting Safe Storage: Eliminates taxes on firearm safes and safety devices, provides free gun locks, expands safe storage training in state-approved safety courses, and creates a public service announcement to promote safe storage
Emily Ann Roberts, runner-up season 9 of The Voice. (Courtesy: WVLT/Emily Ann Roberts)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI/WVLT) Country star and Knoxville native Emily Ann Roberts is headed home to host an album release show at the Bijou Theatre.
Roberts is releasing her full-length LP “Can’t Hide Country” on Friday, Sept. 22, but fans can get a sneak peek a day early at the Knoxville show.
“I can’t wait to celebrate the release of ‘Can’t Hide Country’ in my hometown! These people and this place made me who I am, and I just want to make them proud,” said Roberts.
The album is dedicated to Roberts’s crafting of country music just like what she heard growing up in East Tennessee. It features 13 tracks, 12 of which Roberts wrote.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A rare EF2 tornado is to blame for severe damage Monday in West Knox County.
The National Weather Service confirming an EF2 tornado did touch down in West Knox County from the Yarnell Road to Lovell Road areas. NWS officials say the tornado is the first of that magnitude to touch down in the month of August since 1950.
The EF2 twister was part of severe storms yesterday that caused extreme damage especially in the Cedar Bluff, Lovell Road, and Karns areas.
Officials said windspeeds reached up to 130 miles per hour. The damage from the storm displaced at least 15 people from an apartment complex in Knoxville.
People are still experiencing power outages as well, with the Knoxville Utilities Board reporting nearly 6,000 customers still without power as of 1:00 Tuesday afternoon.
Lovel Crossing Apartments on Lovell Road in Knoxville suffered significant damage after the severe storms on Monday, causing over a dozen people to be displaced.
The Lovell Crossing Apartments complex houses close to 400 people, but more than a dozen of them will be unable to return home due to the extensive damage caused by severe weather. No injuries have been reported, but many residents had to make last minute plans to find a place to stay after the storm tore through the apartment complex.
For the 15 people without a place to stay, the county is using First Baptist Church of Knoxville as a shelter for the time being. Red Cross is also going to take part in assisting those in need who choose to stay at the church.
According to the Knoxville Fire Department, it will likely take weeks, and maybe even months, before anyone is allowed to move back into the apartment complex.
Knox County Engineering and Public Works crews worked through the night to clear more than 200 down trees as several areas in Knox County suffered significant damage after yesterday’s storms. Reports show that Karns, Cedar Bluff, and Lovell Road may have been the hardest hit.
Additionally, residents were forced to clear more than 300 units in an apartment complex off Yarnell Road. KAT buses are helping lead evacuation efforts.
Countywide, few injuries have been reported.
“Quick, hard-hitting storms like this can be scary,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “Thankfully, our crews and personnel are always prepared for emergencies, and we are able to respond quickly.”
Crews hope to work with utility companies to have all roads open by the end of the day, though the following were still closed this morning:
Bob Kirby Road
Bob Grey Road
Essex Drive
Whitlock Lane
Pleasant Ridge Road
Norfolk Drive.
Clearing roads for emergency access is the top priority. Roadside debris will be picked up in the coming weeks.
“Anyone whose house or apartment was hard hit should call their insurance company right away,” urged Mayor Jacobs. “Together with local government, they will be leading immediate needs assessment and support efforts.”
Knox County, along with other municipalities, has already formed an emergency response team to begin assessing damage, but FEMA could take weeks to approve financial aid, and it could take years for those in need to actually receive any money.
In an event of this size, personal insurance (homeowner, rental, car, etc.) will be the best avenue for reporting and/or recovering any loses or damages. It is highly unlikely there will be an opportunity for individual claims to be filed for federal aid.
Knox County has already begun assembling an emergency response team that will assess damage to submit a request for federal reimbursement of public sector and governmental costs to include things like EPW overtime, debris management, utility work, road repairs, etc. However, it’s more complex than that as FEMA typically won’t reimburse the county for the ordinary costs of business (like road crews doing road work or debris removal during regular working hours).
Reimbursement, if approved, is typically a multi-year process and the county is following the standard reporting processes regularly required by FEMA.
Please call the EPW office at 865-215-5800 to report any trees or debris blocking any road.
