Newport, TN (WOKI) A Cocke County corrections officer is arrested Wednesday after smuggling drugs into jail.
Cocke County Sheriff’s Office officials say Officer David Kirkland Jr. was arrested following an internal investigation on suspicions that contraband was making its way into the Cocke County Detention Center.
CCSO reports Kirkland colluded with two others, including an inmate, to smuggle meth, suboxone, and a cell phone inside the facility.
Kirkland has been charged with conspiracy to bring contraband into a penal facility and official misconduct. He was also immediately terminated.
Harriman, TN (WOKI) The Roane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a body is found in Harriman.
RCSO officials say the body was found Wednesday on a property along Davis Hollow Road in Harriman. The body has been sent to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for autopsy and identification.
No additional details have been released at this time.
The Great Smoky Mountains Balloon Festival is returning for their sixth annual celebration.
The event brings in thousands of people for hot air balloon activities.
Professional balloonists will be taking guests on tethered rides up in the air.
New for 2023, the festival will be selling reusable water bottles and providing refill stations to cut down on plastic. Guests can also look forward to a DJ, food trucks and more than 30 craft booths.
Gates open for the one-day event at 3 p.m. on August 19 at the Townsend Visitor Center.
“As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “In the months leading up to the public safety special session, we have listened to Tennesseans and worked with members of the General Assembly to identify thoughtful, practical measures to strengthen public safety across our state, including steps to support law enforcement, address mental health, prevent violent crime and stop human trafficking. I thank the General Assembly for its continued partnership and look forward to achieving meaningful results for Tennesseans.”
Gov. Lee will present legislative and budget priorities during the public safety special session to keep Tennessee communities safe, support law enforcement and address mental health, all while preserving constitutional rights. In addition to bringing the following solutions in the administration package, the Governor will continue to work with members of the General Assembly on other legislation specified in the call.
1. Codification of EO 100https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/pub/execorders/exec-orders-lee100.pdf and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Report Implementation: Requires reporting of accurate, complete and timely records from court clerks to the TBI within 72-hours and requires electronic submissions of dispositions and expungements to the TBI
2. TennCare Mental Health Coverage Waiver: Directs TennCare to seek a waiver from the federal government to allow federal matching funds for Medicaid to cover services for mental illness and substance use disorders at institutions of mental diseases
3. Addressing Mental Health Workforce Challenges: Budget initiatives that prioritize opportunities to grow and retain mental health professionals in the state
4. Reforms for Mental Health: Expands access to mental health treatment by eliminating certain collaborative practice requirements for Advanced Registered Practice Nurses with psychiatric training
5. Strengthening the Identification of Individuals Arrested for Felonies: Provides for the collection of DNA at the time of an arrest for all felonies
6. Human Trafficking Report: Resolution directing TBI to report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee
7. Promoting Safe Storage: Eliminates taxes on firearm safes and safety devices, provides free gun locks, expands safe storage training in state-approved safety courses, and creates a public service announcement to promote safe storage
The man accused of stabbing the driver of a garbage truck during a reported “car-jacking” is now facing federal charges.
43-year-old, Shawn White was arrested in Sevier County after crashing the truck into a business. He is now charged federally with carjacking. He is also charged with multiple felonies and is scheduled to be in court today for a bond hearing.
Monday’s incident started in Fountain City after White allegedly stabbed a woman and stole her car, crashing it before getting into Marcus Pickle’s truck stabbing him in the face, arm and hand and injuring his knee when he jumped from that moving truck.
Campbell County, TN (WOKI) A man is arrested and charged as part of a shooting investigation in Campbell County.
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office officials say 30 year-old Avery Anthony Bowens was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with three counts of attempted criminal homicide and three counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping in connection to a shooting in the Grantsboro area.
CCSO says deputies responded to Country Oaks Lane August 4 on a report of someone firing rifle rounds at a car. Investigators eventually identified Bowens as a suspect.
After taking him into custody, they also searched Bowens’ home, finding more evidence connecting him to the attempted shooting.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A person has been charged in Monday’s deadly crash that happened on I-40 East near Papermill Drive.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 36 year-old Shannon Glasper lost control of her Honda sedan and hit a Dodge truck pulling a camper around 2:00 a.m. The truck then flipped over the wall, coming to rest on the ramp to Papermill Drive.
A passenger in the truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police report Glasper showed signs of being intoxicated; she is charged with vehicular homicide.
Knox County, TN (WOKI) District 3 Knox County Commissioner Gina Oster is asking for the public’s help as neighborhoods in West Knox County , including hundreds of residents displaced from Lovell Crossing Apartments, work to recover from Monday’s devastating EF2 tornado.
Gina Oster, District 3 Knox County Commissioner (Courtesy: Knox County Commission)
“Lovell Crossing Apartments are in terrible shape,” said District 3 County Commissioner Gina Oster.
Speaking with WOKI Wednesday, Oster shared the needs of those displaced at Lovell Crossing who are prohibited from returning to their apartments while the power is out.
“They [the Apartments] are taking donations, collections at their office. They are there from 8:00 to 5:00, and they are handing those out to their residents who can’t get back into their apartments. [Residents] need water, diapers, toothbrushes, restaurant gift cards (that they can hand out), plastic bags . . . that kind of stuff. Just to get them up and going until we can get the power back on.”
Though utility crews are working feverishly to restore power, Oster said “a lot of people in District 3 are suffering right now.”
Oster said the Bob Gray neighborhood was also gravely impacted. “Their utilities were destroyed, millions of dollars worth of infrastructure. It’s really causing a problem with power.”
Oster says the county “is stepping up,” but is asking for the public’s assistance as well by way of donations and recovery assistance in damaged neighborhoods.
You may donate items for residents displaced at Lovell Crossing Apartments, directly through the office, between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00, or you may contact Commissioner Oster online at Gina Oster or via telephone at (865) 343-1639.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee more details for a highly-anticipated special session on public safety.
The special session will begin on August 21 at 4 p.m., according to a proclamation by the Governor.
His proclamation states the General Assembly will consider and act upon a slew of legislation regarding mental health resources, school safety plans and policies along with much more.
“As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “In the months leading up to the public safety special session, we have listened to Tennesseans and worked with members of the General Assembly to identify thoughtful, practical measures to strengthen public safety across our state, including steps to support law enforcement, address mental health, prevent violent crime and stop human trafficking. I thank the General Assembly for its continued partnership and look forward to achieving meaningful results for Tennesseans.”
Lee says he will be presenting legislative and budget priorities during the special session.
“In addition to bringing the following solutions in the administration package, the Governor will continue to work with members of the General Assembly on other legislation specified in the call,” Lee’s office says in a press release.
Codification of EO 100 and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Report Implementation: Requires reporting of accurate, complete and timely records from court clerks to the TBI within 72-hours and requires electronic submissions of dispositions and expungements to the TBI
TennCare Mental Health Coverage Waiver: Directs TennCare to seek a waiver from the federal government to allow federal matching funds for Medicaid to cover services for mental illness and substance use disorders at institutions of mental diseases
Addressing Mental Health Workforce Challenges: Budget initiatives that prioritize opportunities to grow and retain mental health professionals in the state
Reforms for Mental Health: Expands access to mental health treatment by eliminating certain collaborative practice requirements for Advanced Registered Practice Nurses with psychiatric training
Strengthening the Identification of Individuals Arrested for Felonies: Provides for the collection of DNA at the time of an arrest for all felonies
Human Trafficking Report: Resolution directing TBI to report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee
Promoting Safe Storage: Eliminates taxes on firearm safes and safety devices, provides free gun locks, expands safe storage training in state-approved safety courses, and creates a public service announcement to promote safe storage
