Monroe County, TN (WOKI) A deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is recovering after being shot Sunday afternoon while attempting to serve a search warrant.
MCSO officials say crews responded to a home on Reed Springs Road for a downed tree in the roadway.
The man living in the home, Richard Brown, had an active felony warrant for his arrest out of Loudon County.
A deputy tried to speak to Brown, but he went back into the residence and started making threats.
More crews were called in to execute the warrant; that’s when a deputy was shot in the arm. The deputy was taken to UT Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Brown later surrendered and was taken to the Monroe County jail.
Monroe County deputy shot while serving warrant, sheriff says. (Courtesy: MCSO)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Food City will pay more than $8 million as part of a settlement with the federal government connected to the ongoing opioid epidemic.
It’s the latest news from the U.S. Department of Justice, which announced Monday that K-CA-T Food Stores, Food City’s parent company, had agreed to the settlement.
Court documents said that from Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2018, 24 Food City stores dispensed opioids that were medically unnecessary.
“When pharmacies fill prescriptions for opioids and other powerful controlled substances without regard to their legitimacy or medical necessity it significantly contributes to the opioid epidemic, causing great harm to our citizens and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “This settlement agreement demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are using all tools available to address the opioid crisis.”
Our news partner WVLT News reached out to K-VA-T Food Stores for a statement, below:
The allegations focused primarily on circumstances from more than a decade ago. K-VA-T has continually disputed the validity of these allegations, and the settlement agreement clearly states there is no admission of liability by K-VA-T. This case is another example of the many cases nationwide brought against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of opioid products. – K-VA-T Food Stores
In total, $8,488,378 will go to the federal government. Another $78,621 will go to the states of Virginia and Kentucky for claims paid to Food City through state Medicaid programs.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) No one is injured but a home suffers significant damage following a house fire late Monday morning.
Knoxville Fire Department crews responded to the home in the 5500 block of Jacksboro Pike around 10:30 a.m. to find flames coming from the downstairs windows of the house.
KFD reported crews encountered a heavy amount of smoke and fire but were able to get the fire under control within 20 minutes.
“Upon the arrival of the first fire apparatus, the crew saw flames coming from the downstairs windows of the home,” KFD’s Timothy Woods said. “Firefighting efforts began immediately with first crew going inside to try and extinguish the fire. There was a heavy amount of smoke and fire, but the crews were able to get the fire under control within 20 minutes.”
KFD said no one was home at the time of the fire, and the house suffered significant fire, smoke and water damage.
KFD is investigating the fire’s cause.
Knoxville Fire Department responds to Jacksboro Pike house fire. (Courtesy: KFD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police are asking for information after a car is caught on camera damaging Lakeshore Park.
KPD says a Nissan Xterra was caught on camera off-roading at Lakeshore Park and damaging the landscape just before midnight on December 19.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.
KPD said a car was caught on camera off-roading at Lakeshore Park and damaging the landscape on Dec. 19. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Highway Patrol said it is ramping up efforts to ensure safety on the state’s roadways during the holiday season.
As a part of the Holiday Safety Enforcement Campaign, state troopers will be out in full force in an effort to prevent serious crashes and fatalities.
“The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but they also bring increased risks on the road,” said Colonel Matt Perry of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “We’re asking all drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and always buckle up. Our goal is to make sure everyone arrives at their destination safely.”
THP officials said the campaign will focus on reducing impaired driving, speeding, aggressive drivers and distracted driving across all 95 counties.
Colonel Perry also reminded drivers of the dangers of drowsy driving.
“If you start to feel sleepy, pull over to a safe spot, take a short nap, or roll down your window for some fresh air,” Perry said. “Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by driving drowsy.”
Officials said you can report distracted or other unsafe driving by calling *THP hands-free.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol cruiser. (Courtesy: WVLT / WSMV)
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office revealed that officials with the City of Sweetwater made questionable credit card purchases totaling more than $130,000 over the course of nearly a decade.
According to the investigation, city officials made purchases totaling $132,680.03 from December 2014 through June 2023, including at least $2,615.99 the city paid in taxes and fees.
Types of Questionable Expenditures
Total ($)
Taxes or Fees ($)
Food
71,636.67
1,967.41
Unsupported
36,009.14
73.12
Equipment and Supplies
10,287.60
254.55
Planning, Development, or Tourism
9,843.38
205.63
Contingency and Gifts
4,248.65
97.54
Travel
654.53
17.74
Grand Total
132,680.03
2,615.99
City officials “frequently dined at restaurants or food trucks located in Sweetwater or nearby cities such as Athens, Cleveland, Crossville, Farragut, Knoxville, Lenoir City, Madisonville, and Spring City,” the Comptroller Office’s investigation said. However, the city did not have a policy governing the purchase of food, the purpose of the meals or who was present.
Additionally, investigators said city officials made unsupported purchases including Amazon Prime and Adobe subscriptions and equipment and supply purchases, such as diffusers and essential oils.
The Comptroller’s Office also said city officials made other questionable purchases totaling $34,165.66 that were coded to an account nicknamed “gun pay.”
“Many city employee purchases appeared to be relevant to city business, such as police employees purchasing firearms or several employees purchasing clothing and boots for additional uniforms; however, some city employee purchases appeared to be abusive by benefiting the employee as a payroll advance rather than benefiting the city,” investigators said.
According to the Comptroller’s Office, the investigation revealed the following deficiencies:
City of Sweetwater officials failed to provide adequate oversight or separate financial duties
City of Sweetwater officials failed to establish an adequate prior approval system for purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for city accounts
City of Sweetwater officials routinely paid sales taxes on city purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to establish adequate written policies governing city purchases
Investigators said city officials “indicated that they have corrected or intend to correct these deficiencies.”
The City of Sweetwater providing our news partner WVLT with following statement:
“As a result of a comprehensive investigation over the scope of nearly nine years, the Comptroller’s Office of the State of Tennessee is releasing a report spanning from 2014 to 2023. And while the report makes only two findings, neither of which are criminal, the City of Sweetwater takes this review very seriously. The report recommends a few internal control policy changes, several of which have already been implemented and adopted by the City of Sweetwater. We will now take time for internal review on additional procedures and policies to ensure continued public confidence. We want to continue to sharpen and improve our internal controls to benefit the citizens of Sweetwater.
We are grateful to see this matter closed, and appreciate the diligence the staff and state personnel provided throughout the course of this thorough investigation.“ – City of Sweetwater
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxille police have identified the suspect in a deadly Knoxville shooting.
Officers responded to Washington Pike early Thursday morning, December 19. Investigators say 21-year-old Kevin Martinez shot and killed the victim, 38-year-old Ernest Glenn.
Nashville police arrested Martinez as he was boarding a Greyhound bus there.
He is now being charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
KPD says he will be extradited back to Knoxville in the coming days.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police Department officials Friday afternoon identify the victim of a deadly shooting Thursday on Washington Pike while the search for a suspect continues.
KPD says 38-year-old Ernest Glenn of Knoxville was shot at least once and pronounced dead at the scene in the 2900 block of Washington Pike after crashing his car into a fence.
Officials say a second gunshot victim, identified only as a 45-year-old man, remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Police believe, at this time, that the shooting was targeted and not random in nature.
According to KPD, a suspect has not been identified or charged, but detectives are pursuing active leads.
The shooting remains under investigation by the KPD Homicide Unit.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165. Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward.
Kevin Martinez, 21 (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) One person is dead after a house fire early this morning on Pilleaux Drive in North Knoxville.
Knoxville Fire Department officials say the call came in around 6:00 a.m.
They say responding firefighters had to cut a hole in the floor of the home to gain access to the fire which was determined to be below the floor in a crawlspace. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly.
Fire crews found the homeowner dead inside the residence. No other injuries were reported.
The home suffered significant smoke and water damage.
An investigation is underway to determine a cause.
Knoxville Fire Department crews respond to a house fire on Pilleaux Drive in Knoxville. (Courtesy: KFD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Investigators are now learning how a body ended up in a landfill in Anderson county.
Knoxville Police say 47-year-old Mark Denton was in a dumpster on Broadway for unknown reasons when the dumpster was emptied into a trash truck and dropped off at the Chestnut Ridge landfill.
His body was found December 11; that sparked an investigation with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
The medical examiner determined his death was accidental and occurred in Knoxville.
The Knoxville Police Department will now take over the investigation.
It began on Dec. 11 when ACSO found a man’s body at the Chestnut Ridge Landfill on Fleenor Mill Road. (Courtesy: WVLT)
