Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man following a scam investigation.
SCSO officials reporting the arrest happened on September 19 when deputies responded to Kerr Road after hearing about an online scam. The victim told the office they had been told to withdraw $45,000 in cash and take it home, where it would be picked up.
Deputies tracked down the suspect, 47-year-old Yuanbing Zhou, taking him into custody during a traffic stop; he was charged with felony criminal conspiracy.
SCSO says it’s not uncommon for scammers to request money from victims in the form of cash or gift cards and urge you NOT to comply with such requests but to call police immediately.
“This type of scam is very similar to others we have investigated in recent months,” Sheriff Michael Hodges said. “I encourage each of you to please spread the word to your neighbors, friends, and family. If you are solicited through ANY means to pay a fine, fee, or money, for any reason, do not comply and contact your local law enforcement agency.”
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man is arrested and an investigation is underway after two women are allegedly assaulted Monday morning near the University of Tennessee.
Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded to a call about an assault at Cumberland Avenue and 17th Street just before 9:00 a.m. The two victims, aged 18 and 20, say they were assaulted by a man, later identified as 43-year-old Brad Collins, in an unprovoked attack.
Police say the first victim stated that she was attempting to walk past Collins near University Liquors when he punched her in the right eye with a closed fist and choked her to the point she could not breathe, before letting go and running down the street.
The second victim reported that she was walking on the sidewalk when Collins ran across the street towards her and also punched her in the eye with a closed fist.
Both victims were treated for their injuries.
Collins has been charged with one count of assault and one count of aggravated assault.
UPDATE: Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s endangered child alert for a five-year-old out of Knoxville is over.
Dejon Parker was found with his non-custodial father, 42-year-old Darrell Moore Jr. in Johnson City who is in custody.
Original Story: Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued an Endangered Child Alert for a five-year-old boy missing out of Knoxville.
TBI making the announcement Tuesday afternoon says Dejon Parker is believed to be with his non-custodial father, 42-year-old Darrell Moore Jr.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Knoxville Police Department at 865-215-7165 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
An investigation is underway after a bomb threat is called into Hardin Valley Middle School this morning (Tuesday).
Just after 8:30, the school was evacuated due to the threat. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Hazardous Device Unit and an EOD dog cleared the building after not finding an explosive device. Students returned to class a short time later.
KCSO’s juvenile crimes unit is investigating the threat. Tennessee Highway Patrol, School Security, KCSO’s School Officer, and Tennessee Homeland Security assisted in evacuating everyone from the school.
A Knoxville man is charged with driving under the influence after a pedestrian is killed in a crash.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol called to a crash on Murphy Road at Shannon Valley Farms Boulevard Thursday night.
Troopers say a pedestrian had been hit by an SUV driven by 46-year-old Aldo Weddington and was dead at the scene.
Weddington reportedly told troopers he had used marijuana in the past few weeks and was taking medication for anxiety. He then failed all field sobriety tests.
Additionally, court records said Weddington did not have a valid driver’s license.
Weddington was charged with DUI and driving without a license.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Monday, Sept. 23, 2024) — Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana has once again been nominated for the USA Today 10Best Award for Best Theme Park Halloween Event. The Harvest Festival—which features the wildly popular Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health—has been a perennial favorite for the award. The USA Today contest, which now is live, runs through Monday, Oct. 21 at 11:59 a.m.
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival (now-Oct. 28) provides fabulous fall family fun, with Great Pumpkin LumiNights serving as a great glowing end to the evening. Dollywood stays open until 9 p.m. every night during the festival, allowing families more time to enjoy 12,000 carved pumpkins throughout the park.
A page with a link to the voting page can be found at http://www.dollywood.com/vote. Anyone is eligible to vote and may do so once per day, per device. Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts, which includes a combination of editors from USA Today, editors from 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors and more.
Families will bask in the glow of thousands of intricately carved pumpkins as they wander through displays in Dollywood’s Timber Canyon, Wilderness Pass, Wildwood Grove and Craftsman’s Valley areas. Beyond the impressive displays, guests can find exciting activities to create new memories together.
Artists from a number of genres provide hundreds of performances throughout the festival, while visiting craftspeople display their talents for guests to see. Special harvest-themed menu items from Dollywood’s award-winning culinary team also are a delight to enjoy. There is no doubt that each day is a picture-perfect opportunity for families to enjoy the experiences of a Smoky Mountain harvest.
For more information about Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights and the Harvest Festival, please visit https://www.dollywood.com/ or download the Dollywood app.
The autopsy for a Jefferson County Judge who was hit and killed by a car while his was walking on the highway near Mountain Vista Trail shows alcohol in his system at the time of the incident.
Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge O. Duane Slone shows that he had more than three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he was hit and killed by a car in August.
Slone’s cause of death is listed as “multiple blunt trauma,” and is consistent with that of an accident.
The driver of the car that hit Slone is not facing charges.
White Pine, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The White Pine Police Department is investigating after officers say a road rage incident turned into a deadly shooting Monday morning.
Officers responded to Roy Messer Highway at Exit 4, close to I-81, around 5:00 a.m.
WPPD officials say 20-year-old Jordan Price was shot and killed in the incident which started on Roy Messer and ended with the shooting at a red light near I-81.
The suspect is 59-year-old Derwin Wilds who is facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in the investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY: The White Pine Police Department is investigating after officers say a road rage incident turned into a shooting Monday morning.
Officers sent to Roy Messer Highway at Exit Four, close to I-81, around 5 a.m. One person was injured in the shooting and their injuries are said to be life-threatening.
Police say the scene is safe and is not an active shooter situation but are asking motorists to avoid the area.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are investigating after a woman reported an assault early Sunday morning in Fort Sanders.
KPD officials say a 22-year-old woman reported that a man claiming to be an Uber driver assaulted her.
According to the woman’s report, the man, possibly of Middle Eastern descent with a heavy build, told her he was an off-duty driver who offered her a free ride to her apartment as she was walking home.
The woman reportedly got into the car when the man assaulted her and pushed her out before driving off.
“The Knoxville Police Department strongly encourages residents and visitors to never get in a vehicle with an unknown individual for any reason,” Erland said. “If you have requested a rideshare, always verify the driver information before getting in the car.”
Those with information are asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165.
Anyone who has experienced a similar assault is asked to call the special crimes unit at 865-215-6810.
KPD Communication Manager Scott Erland made the announcement Monday, saying a woman reported that a man claiming to be an Uber driver assaulted her. (Courtesy: KPD)
