Cocke County, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway following an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning in Cocke County.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say preliminary information indicates deputies with the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office saw a vehicle, just before 1:00 a.m., being driven by a person known to have an outstanding warrant.
TBI says when deputies tried to pull the car over, the driver refused to stop, leading police on a chase to the 1700 block of Neddy Mountain Road in Del Rio where, for reasons still under investigation, deputies fired shots that struck the driver while attempting to take the person into custody.
The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment. Neither the suspect nor the officer has been identified.
Following the shooting, the suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment. (Courtesy: TBI)
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Sevier County following several reports of ’potentially contaminated’ candy being handed out on Halloween.
Officials with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office say several social media posts have circulated, alleging candy laced with THC and Fentanyl was handed out to children. The contaminated candy was reportedly handed out in the Majestic Meadows Subdivision.
SCSO says it has reached out to multiple medical facilities to find potential victims. As of now, no patients have been found or hospitalized due to contaminated candy.
SCSO says it‘s unable to verify the accuracy of social media rumors. Police are urging anyone with additional information regarding the reports to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sevier County Sheriff‘s Office said they’ve received several reports of contaminated candy distributed on Halloween. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville (WOKI / Knox County Election Commission) – Thursday, October 31st marked the end (fourteen days) of early voting for the November 5, 2024 Presidential and Federal/State General Election.
A total of 163,303 early votes have been cast in Knox County, with an additional 7,503 votes cast by absentee ballot and in nursing homes.
There are 336,151 registered voters (318,311 active; 17,840 inactive) in Knox County as of October 23, 2024.
COMPARISON TO PRIOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AT CONCLUSION OF EARLY VOTING
November 2024:
163,303 early votes cast
7,503 absentee & nursing home votes cast (thus far)
TBD Election Day votes cast
TBD TOTAL VOTES CAST in November 2024 election
November 2020:
153,197 early votes cast
21,241 absentee & nursing home votes cast
47,950 Election Day votes cast
222,028 TOTAL VOTES CAST in November 2020 election
November 2016:
135,760 early votes cast
6,194 absentee & nursing home votes cast
42,969 Election Day votes cast
184,923 TOTAL VOTES CAST in November 2016 election
NEW VOTERS
A total of 23,415 first-time Knox County voters cast a ballot in early voting.
A 20-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash that happened on Western Avenue Thursday night.
At around 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to Western Avenue at Sullivan Road, where a motorcycle had struck a pickup truck. The motorcycle driver was transported from the scene to the UT Medical Center in critical condition but was pronounced dead a short time later.
It is believed that the motorcycle was driving west on Western Avenue at extremely high speeds when it collided with the pickup truck, which was turning from Sullivan Road onto Western Avenue.
The crash remains under active investigation by KPD crash reconstruction personnel.
Thursday’s crash marks the fourth fatal motorcycle crash in Knoxville city limits since October 22, when a 53-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash on Middlebrook Pike. A 55-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on W. Martin Mill Pike on October 28, while a 51-year-old man passed away on Wednesday night after being involved in a motorcycle crash at Washington Pike and Greenway Drive on October 27.
The Knoxville Police Department reminds motorists to always drive carefully, responsibly and safely. Slow down, pay careful attention at all times while driving, obey all traffic signals and laws, and buckle up.
UPDATE: The cause of the fire which destroyed Trailhead Steak and Trout House in Townsend is determined.
Investigators determined the fire was caused by electrical arcing within the upstairs exterior wall.
Fire crews called to E. Lamar Alexander Parkway Friday morning and found the building fully engulfed in flames.
A firefighter was injured but treatment was refused on the scene.
Fire officials say the building was a total loss.
Original Story: Fire Crews on the scene of a fire at the Trailhead Steak and Trout House in Townsend in the 7800 block of East Lamar Alexander Parkway.
The building fully engulfed in flames at 5:30 this (Friday) morning but fire fighters have most of the fire out but embers remain so Crews are remaining on the scene to continue monitoring the scene.
The building appears to be a total loss, parts of the building are burned to the ground. Authorities are asking you to avoid this area as emergency crews are still on the scene.
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) A pedestrian is dead after possibly being hit by a car Wednesday evening on I-40 East in Sevierville.
Sevierville Police Department officials say officers were called near exit 407 around 10:20 for a person lying on the side of the interstate.
When officers arrived, SPD says they found 61-year old Craig Olcott alive but not moving.
Officials say Olcott had injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle, or by a trailer being towed by a vehicle, adding that he died later that night at UT Medical Center.
The death is under investigation. Anyone with information is being asked to call SPD Detective Sergeant Graham Brantley at 865-868-1748.
Department officials said Thursday that officers were called near exit 407 around 10:20 p.m. about a person lying on the side of the interstate. (Courtesy: SPD on Facebook)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville woman is charged for stealing between $40,000 and $50,000 in scratch-off lottery tickets from her job.
According to charging documents, 35-year-old Siearrah Truhn took and activated the lottery tickets while she was working at a convenience store on Maryville Pike.
A investigation involving the store owner and the Lottery Commission led police to the Kroger on Chapman Highway, where employees told them Truhn had redeemed several thousand dollars in scratched tickets.
Documents indicate the employees kept the tickets and reported it to the lottery commission.
Truhn was charged with theft and computer offenses.
A motorcyclist who was involved in a crash that happened on Sunday evening has died as a result of his injuries.
At around 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 27, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to the intersection of Washington Pike and Greenway Drive in front of the Target, where a Harley motorcycle had struck a Chevy SUV. The motorcycle driver, a 51-year-old man, was transported to the UT Medical Center with critical injuries. The victim passed away at UTMC on Wednesday night.
The investigation revealed that the Chevy SUV turned left into the path of the motorcycle, which subsequently struck the SUV. The driver was then thrown into the roadway. The light was green for both the Chevy SUV and motorcycle. Speed or alcohol were also not believed to be contributing factors.
The driver and two passengers in the Chevy sustained minor injuries in the crash. The driver has since been cited for failure to yield. No additional charges have been filed at this time.
The investigation is being led by KPD crash reconstruction personnel. Upon the completion of the investigation, the case file will be turned over to the Knox County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Knox County will host two public information meetings to seek community input on the East Knox Mobility Study. These meetings will help identify key transportation challenges, set priorities, and shape the final recommendations for the study.
The first public information meeting is on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Carter High School. The second meeting is on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Gibbs Middle School. Both meetings will discuss the same material.
The public is invited to share their comments virtually via the project website. Feedback is requested in three areas: a public survey, interactive map for transportation concerns and ideas, and an interactive map for project feedback. Each area is designed to gather specific types of information that will help guide our planning process. To participate in the online survey, visit https://engagecdmsmith.com/east-knox-county-mobility/survey.
About the Study: The East Knox County Mobility Study is a community-focused initiative designed to enhance transportation planning for the Gibbs, Corryton, Ritta, Strawberry Plains, and Mascot areas. This study will support the new Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan. The study will integrate transportation best practices and consider all modes of travel. More information on the study can be found at https://engagecdmsmith.com/east-knox-county-mobility.
This past weekend, Knoxville Police Department Organized Crime Unit detectives received information that a subject who was possibly involved in a shooting that happened in Alabama was in the Knoxville area. The subject was identified as Abdul Khalil’Llah, 26 of Anniston, Alabama. OCU detectives were able to determine that Khalil’Llah was wanted out of Georgia for failure to appear on a previous felon in possession of a weapon charge.
On Monday, October 28, 2024, OCU detectives were able to track Khalil’Llah to an AirBnB at 103 Greenbrier Drive, where he and another male were observed entering a vehicle and leaving. The vehicle was eventually stopped in a parking lot near S. Northshore Drive and Baum Drive, where Khalil’Llah and his passenger, Varrenzo Bradford, 26 of Statham, Georgia, were detained. Bradford was found to be in possession of a Glock handgun, methamphetamine, and cocaine. In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Bradford was also a convicted felon.
Detectives then obtained a search warrant for the home at 103 Greenbrier Drive, which was executed later that day. When the search warrant was executed, a man and woman were found in the home and detained. Neither were charged.
During the search, detectives located two additional firearms and a drum magazine. Khalil’Llah was charged with fugitive from justice for the outstanding warrant out of Georgia. Bradford was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony. OCU detectives were assisted throughout the day by agents with the A.T.F.
On Tuesday, investigators from Alabama came to Knoxville, where OCU detectives and A.T.F. agents assisted in follow-up investigation and interviews.
Additional charges are pending from the stop and search warrant on Monday, while the investigation into the shooting in Alabama is continuing.
