Knoxville Police Arrest Suspect in Bomb Threat at West Town Mall
WVLT

Knoxville Police Arrest Suspect in Bomb Threat at West Town Mall

December 8, 2024

Knoxville Police says a man has been arrested and charged after making a fake bomb threat at West Town Mall.

32-year-old Marshall Hazlett was arrested Friday night after he claimed to have put a bomb on a TV inside one of the stores which resulted in a significant law enforcement response but officers determined the threat was not credible before mall security evacuated the mall as part of their emergency protocol.

Hazlett was found at Target on Ray Mears Boulevard and charged with making a false report.

A Neighbor’s Quick Actions Prevent Apartment Fire from Spreading
KFD

A Neighbor’s Quick Actions Prevent Apartment Fire from Spreading

December 8, 2024

An alert neighbor calls the Knoxville Fire department and helps keep an apartment fire from spreading.

KFD received the call Saturday for a porch on fire at the Addison at Sutherland. The neighbor also alerted the person inside about the fire.

Thanks to the quick actions of the neighbor, the fire was quickly brought under control through the use of a portable fire extinguisher. KFD was able to completely put the fire out on their arrival.

The building’s exterior wall suffered minor damage.

Thanks to a quick-thinking neighbor, the damage was limited and likely prevented a much larger fire on this frigid December morning.

Cause of Fire that Destroys a Home is Determined by Knoxville Fire Department Officials
KFD

Cause of Fire that Destroys a Home is Determined by Knoxville Fire Department Officials

December 8, 2024

The cause of a fire, that injures two, at the Amherst Ridge Mobile Home Park is determined to have been caused by unattended cooking, which is the leading factor contributing to cooking fires and casualties according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The Knoxville Fire Department was called to Saturday’s fire in the 2600 Miss Ellie Drive and found heavy smoke with flames showing from the home’s exterior.

Crews found two people and got them out of the home. They were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

The home is a total loss and the American Red Cross is assisting.

Knoxville Man Sentence to More Than a Decade in Prison for Deadly Crash Involving a Motorcycle in West Knoxville
WVLT

Knoxville Man Sentence to More Than a Decade in Prison for Deadly Crash Involving a Motorcycle in West Knoxville

December 8, 2024

A Knoxville man is sentenced to more than a decade behind bars after a deadly crash involving a motorcycle on Kingston Pike.

The Knox County District Attorney’s Office says 23-year-old Christian Elwood was driving down Kingston Pike at 91 mph on July 23rd in 2022 when he hit the victim, who was on a motorcycle, near Huxley Road and died the next day.

Elwood was convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and speeding. He has been sentenced to 11 years behind bars without the possibility of parole.

Special Education Teacher Arrested for Assault in Jefferson County, Police Say

Special Education Teacher Arrested for Assault in Jefferson County, Police Say

December 6, 2024

White Pine, TN (WOKI) A teacher in Jefferson County is arrested Friday for allegedly hitting a student with an electronic device.

Officials with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office say a school resource officer at White Pine School was told that 31-year-old Joseph Drake Lee, a special education teacher at the school, struck a student with an iPad on Thursday.

Lee was arrested at the school following an investigation by the SRO and an investigator with the Criminal Investigation Division.

He was charged with assault and child abuse and taken to the Jefferson County Detention Center.

The student was checked by the nurse following the incident.

The teacher hit a 7-year-old student with an iPad, according to police. (Courtesy: JCSO)
UTPD: Former Police Officer Arrested

UTPD: Former Police Officer Arrested

December 6, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The University of Tennessee Police Department served active arrest warrants Wednesday on one of their own.

UTPD officials say Anthony Rizo, who had been employed by the University of Tennessee Police Department for just over seven months, was terminated from his employment for alleged actions taken while off-duty and in the state of Georgia.

He was taken into custody on two active arrest warrants out of Paulding County, Georgia for charges of Peeping Tom and Stalking.

“We have high expectations for the behavior of our officers both on and off duty,” said UTPD Chief Sean Patterson. “His alleged behavior does not reflect the values of our agency, and he is no longer employed by our agency.”

Rizo was turned over to Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies for transport to the Knox County Jail where he will await extradition to Georgia.

Rizo was turned over to Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies for transport to the Knox County Jail where he will await extradition to Georgia. (Courtesy: KCSO)
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Deadly Fire in Madisonville

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Deadly Fire in Madisonville

December 6, 2024

Madisonville, TN (WOKI) An investigation into a house fire involving a fatality is underway in Monroe County.

Officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office say multiple fire agencies along with MCSO’s Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene in the 6200 block of Highway 411 in Madisonville around 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.

MCSO says the name of the individual who perished in the fire is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Additional details about the fire have not been released.

The fire happened in the 6200 Block of Highway 411 on Friday. (Frankly Media)
An Investigation is Underway After Three People are Injured in an Early Morning Fire in Halls
Rural Metro

An Investigation is Underway After Three People are Injured in an Early Morning Fire in Halls

December 6, 2024

An investigation is underway following an early morning (Friday) house fire in Halls that seriously injures three.

Firefighters with Rural Metro called to the home in the 100 block of Keith Way Lane and found a single-wide mobile home with smoke showing and people still inside.

Firefighters rescued one person, and two others were all taken to the hospital with what appeared to be serious conditions.

Your Chance to be Dolly in Her Broadway Musical, “The Search for Dolly”

Your Chance to be Dolly in Her Broadway Musical, “The Search for Dolly”

December 6, 2024

An upcoming Dolly Parton Broadway musical is prompting “The Search for Dolly,” meaning performers of all ages could play the country star on stage.

Dolly put out the call, asking for people to take a minute-long video of themselves singing a Dolly Parton song, then upload it to social media with the hashtag “#SearchForDolly.”

Here’s the video requirements:

One minute performance of the Dolly song of your choice.

The video should start with you introducing yourself and where you’re from.
Name, location and contact information will be collected as part of the application.
For Under 18s, date of birth and parental/guardian permission is required.
Submissions must be received by 11:59PM ET on January 12, 2025.

Anyone of any age is eligible to enter but 18 and younger will need parental permission, submit your video here: https://dollymusical.com/the-search-for-dolly/.

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