Police Identify Person of Interest after Knox County Student Hit

Police Identify Person of Interest after Knox County Student Hit

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has identified a person of interest after a student was involved in a hit-and-run Thursday, August 8.

KCSO says the student, a 16-year-old girl, was hit by a car around 7:30 Thursday morning while waiting on a school bus at the intersection of Thornton and Hughlan Drive in the Farragut area. Police say a passer by saw the girl laying on the ground as the bus pulled up.

The sheriff’s office reported the girl to be in critical but stable condition Friday.

In their press release Friday, KCSO officials “thank[ed] the community and media for their efforts in this case,” adding that the investigation remains active and ongoing.

The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Thorton Drive and Hughlan Drive, KCSO said. (Courtesy: WVLT)
KPD: One Dead, Dog Missing after Late Night Crash on I-40 East

KPD: One Dead, Dog Missing after Late Night Crash on I-40 East

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: One man is dead and his dog is missing following a crash late Thursday night on I-40 East.

KPD officials say officers responded to the interstate between Midway Road and Strawberry Plains Pike around 11:40 to find a
car that had flipped over.

The driver, a 26-year-old man, had been ejected from the vehicle and struck by a tractor trailer that had left the scene; he died as a result of his injuries.

A adult male passenger was taken to a nearby hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Police are searching for the family dog, Oden, a two-year-old Husky that ran away after the crash.

The department is asking anyone who has seen Oden, a two-year-old Husky, to email [email protected]. (Courtesy: KPD)

KPD is still investigating the crash.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a deadly crash that happened Thursday night on I-40 East.

KPD officials say officers responded to the interstate between Midway Road and Strawberry Plains Pike around 11:40 p.m. to find a
car that had rolled over, possibly after crossing the median from the westbound lanes.

KPD says the driver, a 26-year-old man, had been ejected from the vehicle and struck by a tractor trailer that had left the scene; he died as a result of his injuries.

The passenger, also an adult man, was taken to a nearby hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

KPD said the driver was ejected from the car and then hit by a tractor-trailer. (Courtesy: KPD)
Career Criminal Convicted, Gets 15-Year Sentence after Pistol-Whipping Victim, DA Says

Career Criminal Convicted, Gets 15-Year Sentence after Pistol-Whipping Victim, DA Says

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man with 30 prior felony convictions is headed to prison for 15 years after an assault investigation.

The Knox County District Attorney’s Office says 50-year-old Larry Lynn Ray pistol whipped a man at a home on Tipton Station Road last year.

Prosecutors say Ray was arrested and charged. He then called family members and asked them to contact the victim to convince him not to testify.

Ray has 30 prior convictions in Knox, Union, and Sevier Counties.

He will be behind bars for the next 15 years without parole.

Larry Lynn Ray, 50 (Courtesy: Knox County Sheriff’s Office)
Three Minors Charged in Claiborne High School Incident, DA Says

Three Minors Charged in Claiborne High School Incident, DA Says

Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) Three minors have now been charged in connection to an “incident” that happened at Claiborne High School.

The news coming from District Attorney General Jared Effler’s office is the latest update in an ongoing investigation by the New Tazewell Police Department and the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office.

Less than a week since the incident, reported on July 30, Head Football Coach Nathan Medlin also resigned from his position.

The three minors were charged with being a delinquent via aggravated rape.

It’s the latest update in an ongoing investigation by the New Tazewell Police Department and the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Young-Williams Warning People of Possible Animal Control Impersonators

Young-Williams Warning People of Possible Animal Control Impersonators

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Young Williams Animal Center is out with a warning.

Scammers in Knoxville are pretending to be animal control officers. Young Williams says two men in regular clothing have even managed to get into people’s homes, reportedly showing up asking for animal documents and medical records.

Center officials say legitimate workers wear dark blue or neon green polos with the center’s logo on them, and they drive a Young-Williams branded truck.

If you see one of these scammers at your home, call police.

(Courtesy: Young-Williams Animal Center)
Claiborne Co. Schools Addresses Investigation at School Board Meeting

Claiborne Co. Schools Addresses Investigation at School Board Meeting

Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) The Claiborne County Director of Schools has now spoken about an ongoing hazing investigation involving students.

The Claiborne Co. Board of Education hosted a meeting Thursday night just days after Claiborne High School head football coach Nathan Medlin resigned from his job ahead of the season.

Director of Schools Meredith Medley Arnold addressed the board and the public at the meeting, confirming that the incident being investigated happened during football camp.

“Both the school board members and our administrative team remain fully aware that an incident occurred at the Claiborne High School football camp. We treat such matters with the utmost importance which is why law enforcement was immediately notified and asked to conduct a full investigation. Because that law enforcement investigation remains ongoing and because Claiborne Co Schools possesses a duty to at all times protect student privacy, neither the board nor I, the director of schools, can offer any further specific comments on this situation. Once the law enforcement investigation stands as compete, we trust the district attorney’s office to take appropriate action and update you, the public, regarding the same. With that, I do want to take a moment publicly to thank not only the district attorney’s office, but the Tazewell and New Tazewell police departments for all their diligent and professional work to date. I also want to end these remarks by assuring our students, our parents and all members of our Claiborne County community that we are taking this matter seriously and we will never stop working tirelessly to prioritize the safety of our students. If any mistakes were made by Claiborne County Schools during this process, then we will also work hard to identify such mistakes and make steps to make sure they are never repeated. We understand the importance of trust at Claiborne County Schools and we are going to do everything within our power to strengthen the trust you have in our school system moving forward.”Director of Schools Meredith Medley Arnold

The New Tazewell Police Department is leading the investigation into the incident. School administrators called the sheriff’s office to investigate a hazing incident that happened at Claiborne High School on July 30.

Corey McGinnis has been named as the interim head football coach at Claiborne High School following the resignation of Nathan Medlin.

Officials with the Claiborne County Schools system commented on the ongoing hazing investigation at a board meeting Thursday. (Courtesy: WVLT)

TBI Issues Silver Alert for Sevier County Woman

TBI Issues Silver Alert for Sevier County Woman

Sevier County, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Silver Alert for a missing Sevier County woman.

TBi says 43-year-old Angela Latham was last seen on Thursday wearing a long black dress. There is no word on where she may be headed.

Officials say Latham has a medical condition that could make it hard for her to get home safely without help.

If you have any information on Latham’s whereabouts, please call the SCSO at 865-774-3909 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Angela Latham, 43 (Courtesy: TBI)
Man Could See Decades Behind Bars after Sexually Assaulting Two Minors, DA Says

Man Could See Decades Behind Bars after Sexually Assaulting Two Minors, DA Says

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man is facing decades in prison after being convicted Thursday for sexually assaulting two minors.

According to District Attorney Charme Allen’s office, 35-year-old Ray Elliott III assaulted a 14-year-old girl in January of 2023, and the girl reported the assault to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office the next day.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tested evidence in the case, finding Elliot’s DNA in the girl’s underwear. During the investigation, officers also found that another child victim had been abused by Elliot.

Elliot has four previous felony convictions. After his conviction Thursday, Elliott is facing three counts of rape, statutory rape by an authority figure and aggravated sexual battery and one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery and sexual activity involving a minor.

He’ll be sentenced on September 20 and is looking at between 12 and 20 years for each conviction.

Ray Elliott III, 35 (Courtesy: DA Charme Allen)
KCSO: 16-Year-Old Student in Critical but Stable Condition Following Hit and Run, Police Searching for Driver

KCSO: 16-Year-Old Student in Critical but Stable Condition Following Hit and Run, Police Searching for Driver

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A 16-year-old Knox County Schools student is in critical but stable condition Friday morning following a hit and run crash in West Knox County.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 7:30 Thursday morning, August 8 at the intersection of Thornton and Hughlan Drive in the Farragut area.

Police say a passer by saw the girl laying on the ground as the bus pulled up.

At this time, KCSO does not have a description of the involved vehicle and is asking those who live in the area to check security cameras and report any information to the sheriff’s office’s Traffic Unit (TANGO) at 865-215-2243; ask for Officer Simerly. You can remain anonymous.

The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Thorton Drive and Hughlan Drive, KCSO said. (Courtesy: WVLT)
New Parental Consent Law in Effect as School Resumes Across the State

New Parental Consent Law in Effect as School Resumes Across the State

Nashville, TN (WOKI) As school starts back, lawmakers are reminding everyone of Tennessee’s new parental consent law.

The new law requires the doctor or nurse to consult with parents by phone or text before treatment in non-emergency situations. It also applies to school counseling; however, lawmakers say counselors can still listen to a student’s problems or concerns without parental consent.

Should an emergency situation arise, the law does stipulate that any person, including a school nurse, can provide a child with medical assistance to include treating a wound or taking a child to the emergency room in the event of a serious injury.

Seven other states have similar laws that require parental consent for non-emergency medical services: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The new law requires the doctor or nurse to consult with parents by phone or text before treatment in non-emergency situations.