Multi-Agency Search of Knoxville Home Leads to Man’s Arrest, Police Say

Multi-Agency Search of Knoxville Home Leads to Man’s Arrest, Police Say

October 16, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Detroit man is facing drug charges after multiple Knoxville-area agencies executed a search warrant Tuesday on an Oldham Avenue home.

Officials with the Knoxville Police Department say 57-year-old Sean Johnson was taken into custody and charged with maintaining a dwelling for drug purposes and manufacture/sale/delivery of schedule I, II and VI narcotics.

KPD says authorities found more than 30 grams of cocaine, a gram of heroin, two marijuana plants and over $17,000 in cash.

Additionally, a 43-year-old woman at the home was taken into custody for an unrelated charge.

According to KPD Communication Manager Scott Erland, KPD Organized Crime Unit detectives and members of the Drug-Related Death Task, which included KPD, Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation personnel searched the house at 900 W. Oldham Avenue.

Erland says the search warrant originated from an investigation into a series of suspected overdose deaths that occurred in and around the Lonsdale area in 2023. 

A Detroit man is facing drug charges after multiple Knoxville-area agencies executed a search warrant on an Oldham Avenue home. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville Police ask for Tips on Vehicle Involved in Shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

Knoxville Police ask for Tips on Vehicle Involved in Shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

October 16, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police Department detectives are seeking information regarding a vehicle allegedly involved in a shooting Sunday on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

KPD says shots were fired around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 13 from what appears in surveillance footage to be a GMC Yukon, at another car in the area of Lakeside Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

A 41-year-old man who was outside of his home at the time of the shooting was struck in the leg by the gunfire.

Anyone with information is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Knoxville police release pictures of suspect’s car after man shot in leg. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville Man Arrested for Child Sex Crimes Following Sting Operation in Sevier County, SCSO Says

Knoxville Man Arrested for Child Sex Crimes Following Sting Operation in Sevier County, SCSO Says

October 16, 2024

Sevier County, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man is arrested for child sex crimes following a sting operation in Sevier County.

Officials with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office say an internet crimes against children investigator with the office, posing as a 13-year-old, chatted online with the man. During the investigation, investigators reportedly identified the man as 34-year-old Howard Rupprecht.

SCSO says Rupprecht went to Seymour to meet with the “teen” for a “sexual encounter.” Instead, deputies took him into custody.

Rupprecht was booked into the Sevier County jail on a $2,500 bond and has been charged with solicitation of a minor.

Howard Rupprecht, 34 (Courtesy: SCSO)
Early Voting Underway in 2024 Presidential and Federal / State Elections

Early Voting Underway in 2024 Presidential and Federal / State Elections

October 16, 2024

(Knoxville, TN WOKI) Early voting begins today (Wednesday) in this year’s Presidential and Federal / State General election.

It runs through October 31st and in addition to President, Knox County voters will cast their ballot in Tennessee House of Representative races, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives races and there are some other items for consideration.

Knox County Election Commission officials say they are expecting a large voter turn out for this election so you could expect long lines. There will be twelve early voting locations which includes two brand new locations and two Saturdays available to cast your ballot in the 2024 Presidential and Federal / State Elections.

If you’d like participate in early voting, please go to https://www.knoxcounty.org/election/ to view times and a sample ballot or to get more information.

Election Day is November 5th and the last day to request an absentee ballot is October 29th.

Here are your early voting locations in Knox County:

Tennessee Highway Patrol is Investigating a Fatal Crash in Cocke County
THP

Tennessee Highway Patrol is Investigating a Fatal Crash in Cocke County

October 16, 2024

An investigation is underway following a crash that left one person dead and injures another in Cocke County.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol says 70-year-old Barbara Williamson was driving north on Highway 321, commonly known as Cosby Highway, Monday afternoon and failed to stay in her lane while driving around a curve in the 2700 block of the Highway and hit a pick-up truck head-on, killing that driver.

Williamson was injured, the extent of her injuries have not been released.

Charges against Williamson are pending the outcome of the investigation.

Suspect in Chapman Highway Shooting Turns Himself in to Knoxville Police
KPD

Suspect in Chapman Highway Shooting Turns Himself in to Knoxville Police

October 16, 2024

(Knoxville, TN WOKI/KPD) Knoxville Police say the suspect in a shooting on Chapman Highway charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault has turned himself in.

34 year-old Ariran Burks voluntarily turned himself in yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon and is custody in connection to the October 11th shooting in the 4600 block of Chapman Highway, which critically injured a 24-year-old woman.

TDOT Sends Crews to Aid Florida DOT in Hurricane Relief Efforts
wusf

TDOT Sends Crews to Aid Florida DOT in Hurricane Relief Efforts

October 16, 2024

Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Strike Force crews have been dispatched to the greater Tampa area to assist the Florida Department of Transportation in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

Our Strike Force team is a specialized group of TDOT employees able to deploy quickly in natural disasters to help with heavy debris removal, infrastructure assessments, and road repairs. The team is comprised of skilled equipment operators, engineers, and transportation experts. Their goal is to provide immediate relief and begin the recovery process in flood-affected communities.

Twenty-nine TDOT employees from Regions 2 and 3 mobilized this morning in 27 vehicles hauling 12 pieces of heavy construction equipment and 6 supply trailers. Our forces will embed with FDOT crews for at least 14 days. 

“We’re proud to have the resources available to mobilize swiftly to help with the urgent needs of our neighbors in Florida severely impacted by Hurricane Milton,” says Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “We’ll work diligently with our FDOT partners to accelerate their recovery efforts and restore connectivity in the region just as they did for us after Hurricane Helene devasted upper East Tennessee.”

Additional TDOT engineers, HELP crews, and Strike Force members from across the state remain in East Tennessee for ongoing relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. More than 800 employees have participated in the cleanup totaling nearly 70 thousand man-hours. Seventeen sections of road remained closed, out of 49. Of the 14 state bridges closed, seven have reopened. A portion of I-26 is open to local traffic and weather-permitting portions of I-40 will reopen with restrictions within a week.

TDOT is committed to informing the public of our progress during this critical recovery period. We have created a dedicated webpage for storm updates, which can be accessed here: Hurricane Helene Recovery (tn.gov).

On this site, TDOT will provide daily updates. These updates will include our Project Status Tracker along with a map of East Tennessee closures, broken down by county. Updates will also be shared on our social media channels. For real-time information on road conditions, please visit SmartWay.

Suspect Detained after Aggravated Robbery, Knox County Sheriff’s Office Says

Suspect Detained after Aggravated Robbery, Knox County Sheriff’s Office Says

October 15, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a robbery that occurred Tuesday morning at a business on Clinton Highway.

KCSO officials say deputies responded just before noon to Vape & Smoke at 7217 Clinton Highway for an aggravated robbery.

KCSO says one suspect was detained in connection to the incident. Juvenile Crimes, Major Crimes, and Aviation also responded to the scene.

Additional information regarding the robbery has not been released as the investigation is in the preliminary stage at this time.

Deputies responded to the robbery just before noon on Tuesday. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Cocke and Greene County Schools Announce Reopening after Historic Flooding

Cocke and Greene County Schools Announce Reopening after Historic Flooding

October 15, 2024

Newport, TN (WOKI) Cocke County Schools’ students and staff are returning to school Wednesday, October 16 following devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene that began on September 27.

Cocke County Schools representatives say the district has been working with county and state officials to gauge the damage and work on repairs to get students back in school safely, adding that no damage has occurred to any of the district’s facilities.

District officials say they are committed to providing support to students and families and that social and emotional support services will be available for students and staff who may be impacted by the flood.

For more information and to stay updated with the reopening process, visit the Cocke County Schools website here.

FILE: Water from the remnants of Hurricane Helene washed out roads and submerged bridges in East Tennessee over the weekend. (Courtesy: WSMV)

(Greene County – WOKI) Students in Greene County and Greeneville City Schools are back the classroom after devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene.

A lot has changed in the last two weeks in order to get students back in the classroom today (Tuesday).

Officials say at least four students and one administator were pretty severely affected by flooding.

Because Greene County is still under a boil water advisory, schools had to be stocked with bottled water both for drinking and preparing meals for students.

They are also using plastic and Styrofoam during meals to limit the amount of dishes to be washed.

The Greene County Health Department says the water in the restroom is okay to use for washing hands.

KCSO: Eighth Grader Arrested for Threatening Karns Middle School

KCSO: Eighth Grader Arrested for Threatening Karns Middle School

October 15, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: An eighth-grade Gresham Middle School student is arrested Tuesday afternoon for threats of mass destruction.

Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office confirming that the threat was directed at Karns Middle School which was evacuated upon receipt of the threat Tuesday morning.

In addition to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detective Unit and school officers, KCSO explosive device detection dogs were deployed and searched the school.

KCSO says the arrest was made just before 2:00 p.m. and that the investigation into the threat remains active.

ORIGINAL STORY: Karns Middle School has been evacuated due to a threat Tuesday morning.

In a release to media just after noon today, officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say KCSO’s Juvenile Detective Unit and school officers are on campus to investigate.

They add that the investigation is in its preliminary stages and information, at this time, is limited.

Karns Middle School (via Yelp.com)

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