UPDATE: The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is thanking the public for their help finding 77-year-old Jerry Austin who left his Maryville home on Blockhouse Road yesterday (Monday) afternoon. He has been found safe.
Original Story: The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help finding a missing Maryville man.
77-year-old Jerry Austin left his home on Blockhouse Road yesterday (Monday) afternoon, he was wearing a red and black jacket and blue jeans.
He does have a medical condition that may impair his ability to return home safely without assistance.
Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler provides a timeline of events that led up to David Batts’ death, saying that officers committed no wrongdoing.
Spangler says Batts was arrested on January 7th for sexual battery at UT Medical Center and taken to the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. Due to for not complying with authorities.
Spangler says hours later Batts continued to not comply with supervisors and medical staff, leading them to gain control of him so a nurse could get vital signs. He says the nurse determined that Batts should be taken back to the hospital.
First responders took him back in the early morning hours of January 8th. The Sheriff says a judge granted Batts a pre-trial release from custody while he was still where he passed away.
District Attorney General Charme Allen says a preliminary autopsy report identified Batts’ cause of death as meningitis, meaning the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would not be looking into the incident.
Spangler added that a urine analysis showed that Batts had fentanyl in his system. A final autopsy report is still pending Batts’ family hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is well known for his role in representing the family of George Floyd, who died in May of 2020.
Crump said in a statement that Batts’ death was caused by “unchecked brutality” within the Knox County justice system. Representatives from his office added that they intend to file a lawsuit in the near future. “The death of David Batts is an example of unchecked brutality within the justice system,” Crump said. “His family deserves answers, accountability, and justice for this horrific loss. We demand the immediate release of all footage related to the arrest.
Knoxville – What steps do I need to take to run for elected office?
Why is the ballot ordered a certain way?
How do Knox County and the State of Tennessee ensure fair and accurate elections?
Why did my polling place change?
These are just a few of the many questions that voters throughout Knox County ask the Election Commission throughout the year. So, with a combined five elections scheduled in 2025 and 2026 – representing 48 elected offices – the Knox County Election Commission (KCEC) continues its duty to answer voters’ questions by again offering the popular Knox County Elections 101 seminar.
Now in its third year, this half-day seminar is geared towards voters, individuals considering a run for public office, and voters interested in being poll workers. Attendees will hear from KCEC staff and poll workers about how elections are conducted in Knox County and many of the details associated with preparing for an election.
In addition to a mock election, attendees will be presented information on several topics, including:
The different types of elections
The eight types of voting
How polling places are determined
What candidates need to know before they run for office
Ballot requirements, ballot order, and other ballot details
How accurate voter registration rolls are maintained
The important role that poll workers play in conducting elections
Determination of results – how the votes are counted
Election integrity and security – from pre-election public machine tests to post-election audits
And much, much more.
There is no cost to attend, but attendees must pre-register. The class will be limited to 40 individuals, and preference may be given to applicants with a strong voting record (frequent voters). Attendees must be registered voters in Knox County.
2024 was a record-breaking year at TYS, McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) welcomed 3.3 MILLION passengers, marking a 17.8% increase over 2023.
In addition, here are a few more numbers of interest. In 2024 at TYS:
50,160 feet of new cables were installed in the terminal
53,059 Cinnabons were consumed
279,724 Starbucks drinks were ordered
461,125 Quiznos sandwiches were served
2,800 miles of toilet paper were used
1,330,557 cars parked on property
McGhee Tyson officials say to everyone who traveled with us this year: THANK YOU! Chances are, you’ve noticed just how busy we’ve been.
They also say if you’re flying with them in 2025, plan ahead! Officials recommend arriving at least two hours before your flight to navigate the increased traffic, passengers, and flights.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has ended its investigation into a Farragut priest.
Father Joseph Reed was placed on leave in December after being accused of violating boundaries within the Knoxville Diocese’s Safe Environment Policy.
The diocese sent out a letter to the congregation when Reed was first placed on leave, indicating they reported the complaint to the state which then prompted an investigation by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Child Services.
KCSO officials report their investigation found the allegations unsubstantiated.
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Tazewell, TN (WOKI) Tennessee forestry officials say rain has helped contain a wildfire that broke out Sunday night on Powell Mountain in Claiborne County.
According to the Division of Forestry, the fire broke out on the south side of the mountain near Snake Hollow Road, scorching 66 acres before it was 100% contained just ahead of noon on Monday.
Officials say the fire currently poses no danger to homes and that overnight rain and snow helped suppress the flames.
“A line was completed on the East flank cutting off the head, and a fortunate rainfall/snowfall event raised relative humidities and fuel moisture considerably, causing the fire to die down,” forestry officials said. “Further rainfall aided in extinguishing slow moving backing fires, although heavy fuels and dead trees/snags continued to burn throughout the night.”
The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.
Tennessee Division of Forestry officials said the fire currently poses no danger to homes. (Pexels)
Maryville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation cancels a Silver Alert issued Monday for a missing Maryville Man.
TBI officials report 57 year-old Brian Scott Alley has been located and is safe.
Alley was reported missing after having been seen last on Sunday near Rugby Place and Everett High Road.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Silver Alert for a missing Maryville Man.
Authorities say 57 year-old Brian Alley was last seen Sunday near Rugby Place and Everett High Road wearing jeans and a black jacket with green accents on the shoulders and uses a walker.
If you have any information, please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Numerous narcotics and a stolen firearm are discovered, and a previously convicted felon is arrested following a search warrant Friday at a Knoxville motel.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 54-year-old Vernon Johnson was arrested after police conducted the search of a room at the Inn of Knoxville, located on N. Cherry Street.
The warrant also included a search of Johnson’s vehicle, resulting in the seizure of over 68 grams of suspected meth, various amounts of suspected heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana, a stolen handgun and over $4,000 in cash.
Johnson was taken into custody on numerous felony drug charges in addition to possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
The search warrant was conducted in relation to an ongoing investigation being led by the Drug-Related Death Task Force and included members of the Knoxville Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit, Special Operations Squad, and Community Engagement Response Team.
The Drug-Related Death Task Force investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Knoxville Police arrest 54-year-old Vernon Johnson after drugs, stolen gun recovered during search warrant. (Frankly Media)
Crews with the Rural Metro Fire Department responding to an overturned tanker truck this (Monday) morning.
The truck flipped next to a small creek in the 1600 block of Huckleberry Springs Road in east Knox County and was leaking diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid.
Crews established an earth dam to prevent any additional fluid flowing down the creek, their Haz Mat team followed up with booms and pads to absorb it.
The tanker was carrying 2,100 gallons of Road/Farm use diesel fuel and large wreckers along with several state and county environmental teams as well as an environmental cleanup firm have been called to the scene.
The diesel will have to be pumped to another tanker before it can be removed and towed away so the road will be closed for most of the day.
No injuries reported and the environmental impact appear to be minimal.
Deionta Bailey, 35 of Powell, Tennessee, has been charged with attempted second-degree murder among other charges following a shooting incident that occurred on Sunday afternoon at a Chapman Highway business.
At around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2025, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to the JMC Smoke Shop located at 4026 Chapman Highway to investigate a shooting.
Once on scene, officers learned that the suspect later identified as Bailey had been asked to leave the JMC Smoke Shop, became angry and assaulted the store clerk. Bailey then fired multiple rounds from the parking lot towards the front of the store. One of those gunshots grazed the upper arm of a bystander, a 50-year-old man who sitting in a parked car in the parking lot. That individual was treated for minor injuries and released from the scene.
Through further investigation, officers determined that Bailey fled from the scene in a white GMC SUV with a registered address in Powell. Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to that address and located the suspect vehicle. KPD Community Engagement Response Team officers then responded to the scene as well, where Bailey was detained.
Detectives spoke with Bailey, who admitted to firing multiple shots towards the front of the JMC Smoke Shop. Bailey was subsequently charged with attempted second-degree murder, felony reckless endangerment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Bailey was booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility at around 5 a.m. this morning.
