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.
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office says a LaFollette man has been arrested after a lengthy investigation.
Investigators went to a home on Stonebrook Lane in LaFollette Thursday to execute a narcotics search warrant.
During the search, they found and seized several Schedule II and VI controlled substances and multiple firearms which lead to the arrest of 67-year old James Durham.
He is charged with multiple counts of possession and resale charges along with a weapon and drug-free school zone charge.
An investigation is underway following a house fire in East Knox County.
Rural Metro Fire were called to the 9300 block of Mascot Road yesterday (Sunday) morning and found a large 2 story home with fire coming from the rear and everyone inside and their pets were safely outside.
Crews worked hard to limit the spread of the fire, but the false ceilings and multiple roofs that had been added over the years proved trying. The home suffered significant fire, smoke and water damage.
The Red Cross was called to help the occupants and no injuries were reported.
UPDATE: A suspect is arrested after a deadly shooting in Morgan County.
Morgan County deputies responded to a home on Deerlodge Highway and found Ivory Hamby dead.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading this investigation and they say a A woman was also injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Authorities say there “is no danger to the community.”
The motive behind the deadly shooting is unknown at this time.
Original Story: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating a fatal shooting a deadly shooting in Morgan County.
The District Attorney General’s office says the shooting happened near Sunbright and killed a man. A woman was also injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
The DA says a suspect is in custody and that there is no danger to the community.
The motive behind the shooting is unknown at this time.
AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team fell just shy of knocking off the No. 1 team in the nation Saturday night, falling at top-ranked Auburn, 53-51, at a sold-out Neville Arena.
In the fifth AP top-six showdown in program history, No. 6/7 Tennessee (17-3, 4-3 SEC) led by four with under two minutes left, but the Tigers earned the win in a back-and-forth defensive affair. Senior guard Zakai Zeigler paced the Volunteers with 14 points.
Both teams got off to sluggish shooting starts, but Auburn (18-1, 6-0 SEC) took 10 more shots than Tennessee in the first 8:11 to build a 10-5 advantage, as it forced five turnovers, committed only one and posted a 5-0 margin on the offensive glass. In the next two-plus minutes, though, the Volunteers forced a pair of turnovers and grabbed a trio of offensive boards to level the score at 10-10 with 9:01 on the timer.
The Tigers then held the visitors scoreless for 3:36 and tallied the next six points—half on a 3-pointer and the other three via free throws from a foul on a 3-point attempt—to take their largest lead, 16-10, but Tennessee answered back. It held Auburn scoreless for 4:27, during which it posted a 6-0 run in 1:18 to even the game at 16 with 4:07 left in the frame.
Auburn took a 22-20 edge into the locker room after a half that included a combined 1-of-21 ledger from 3-point range. The Tigers shot 1-of-10 beyond the arc, while the Volunteers notched a 0-of-11 clip. Both sides made seven field goals, Auburn on 32 shots (21.9 percent) and Tennessee on 25 shots (28.0 percent)
The Volunteers used a 6-0 run in 1:47 early in the second half, during a span of 3:52 in which it did not allow a point, to take a 28-26 lead at the 16:04 mark. Auburn went back ahead, 33-30, with 12:46 to go, but Tennessee, after a 0-of-14 start, made its first 3-pointer 36 seconds later to tie the game. After an Auburn basket, the Volunteers regained the lead, 36-35 with 9:41 to go, on a second straight long-range make.
The Tigers, following a 1-of-16 start, hit their second 3-pointer with 6:09 remaining and then made a pair of free throws 26 seconds later to go up by five, 45-40. Tennessee once again countered, scoring five points in 26 seconds, capped with a game-tying 3-pointer by senior guard Jordan Gainey with 4:43 on the clock.
Tennessee went back in front, 48-47, on a transition 3-pointer by fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier with 3:10 left. The Volunteers then took their then-biggest lead, 50-47, on a pair of free throws by Zeigler with 2:23 to play. Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added a free throw 16 seconds later to extend the margin to four.
The Tigers cut the deficit in half with 1:46 left and then went back ahead, 52-51, with 28 seconds on the ticker on a corner 3-pointer by senior guard Miles Kelly. Auburn was 2-of-19 from long range before the go-ahead shot. Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford then split a pair from the line with 12.7 seconds to play, putting Auburn up by two. Tennessee missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds and the Tigers held on for the victory.
In addition to his team-best point total, Zeigler had six rebounds, a game-leading five assists and a co-team-high two steals. The Long Island, N.Y., native also went a perfect 6-of-6 at the stripe, plus committed only one turnover in a season-high 39:14 of action.
Lanier finished with 10 points, while senior guard Jordan Gainey had eight, Mashack notched seven along with six boards and junior forward Felix Okpara scored six to complement his team-high nine rebounds.
Auburn senior forward/center Johni Broome, who returned to action after suffering a left ankle injury 14 days ago, totaled 16 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks to pace all players in each category. Tennessee did hold him to 7-of-19 shooting, as well as to just three points in the final 15 minutes after he scored half of the Tigers’ first 26.
Senior forward Chaney Johnson posted 10 points on a 5-of-8 field-goal clip for Auburn, Pettiford had eight and senior guard/forward Chad Baker-Mazara chipped in a seven on an unblemished 7-of-7 free-throw ledger.
Tennessee limited Auburn, by far the top team in the nation in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, to season lows in points, field-goal percentage (31.0; 18-of-58), 3-point percentage (15.0; 3-of-20), made field goals and made 3-pointers. The 53 points were the Tigers’ fewest since a 46-43 loss at Tennessee on Feb. 4, 2023.
The Volunteers now return to Knoxville, Tenn., where they begin a three-game homestand Tuesday at 7 p.m. against ninth-ranked Kentucky, live on ESPN from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES • Saturday marked the fifth time in the last nine meetings both Tennessee and Auburn were ranked, with the Volunteers now 3-2, while prior to March 17, 2019, both sides were ranked in just two of the first 85 clashes of the AP Poll era (since 1948-49), each claiming one. • Additionally, this was the 11th straight series matchup with at least one team ranked, while just 27 of 83 in the AP Poll era before Jan. 2, 2019, featured a ranked team. • The Volunteers have now faced Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, who led Tennessee from 2005-11, a total of 16 times, tied with Andy Kennedy for its fourth-most against any active coach. • Saturday marked the fifth AP top-six showdown in Tennessee history, with all five away from home and four in head coach Rick Barnes‘ tenure. • Tennessee fell to 32-24 (.571) in AP top-25 matchups under Barnes, including 4-2 (.667) in 2024-25, 20-11 (.645) since Feb. 26, 2022, and 11-4 (.733) since Dec. 9, 2023. • The Volunteers are now 7-8 (.467) in AP top-10 clashes in Barnes’ tenure, including 6-6 (.500) since March 2, 2019. • Tennessee fell to 38-39 (.494) against AP top-25 foes in the Barnes era, including 22-12 (.647) since Jan. 22, 2022. • The Volunteers moved to 9-9 (.500) versus AP top-five opponents under Barnes, including 5-4 (.556) since Feb. 15, 2022. • Tennessee’s record against AP top-five SEC teams in Barnes’ tenure is now 7-2 (.778), with this snapping a six-game winning streak. • Saturday was the 22nd time Tennessee has faced the AP No. 1 team, with its record falling to 6-16, including 6-7 since March 5, 1966, as well as 4-5 since Feb. 23, 2008, and 5-5 against all programs other than Kentucky. • The Volunteers are now 2-2 in Barnes’ tenure against AP No. 1 teams, including 1-2 away from home and 1-1 in SEC play. • Across its 71-week active streak featured in the AP Poll, dating to the 2021-22 preseason rankings, Saturday marked just the 14th time in 117 outings Tennessee has faced a higher-ranked team, with its record now 8-6 in those contests, including 6-2 versus SEC foes, 5-2 at campus sites and a 7-4 mark since Jan. 22, 2022. • The Tigers were called for their seventh foul of the first half after just 9:28, putting the Volunteers in the bonus with 10:32 on the timer, but committed just one more the rest of the frame and Tennessee never attempted any bonus, non-shooting free throws. • Tennessee, which missed its first five field-goal attempts, shot 1-of-9 from the field through the first 8:40, while Auburn went 5-of-18 at the other end. • The Volunteers did not make a 3-point attempt in the first half for the second time in their last six games, as they went 0-of-14 before the break Jan. 7 at Florida. • Through the first 27:49 of action, Tennessee went 0-of-14 from 3-point range and Auburn shot 1-of-13 at the other end. • In the first half, Tennessee held Baker-Mazara (0-of-4), Kelly (0-of-5), Pettiford (0-of-5) and senior guard Denver Jones (0-of-5) to a combined 0-of-19 field-goal clip, en route to the group finishing the night 5-of-30. • Auburn’s prior season low was 66 points at Georgia on Jan. 18, while it last scored under 53 or fewer nearly two years ago in, as aforementioned, a 46-43 loss at Tennessee on Feb. 4, 2023. • The Tigers’ previous season low in field-goal percentage was 39.3 (24-of-61) at Georgia on Jan. 18, while the last time it was at 31.0 percent or below was when it tallied a 30.9 clip (17-of-55) versus Kentucky on Feb. 17, 2024. • Auburn’s prior low mark in 3-point clip this year a 25.0 percent (6-of-24) ledger versus Kent State on Nov. 13, 2024, while it last was at 15.0 or lower when it logged an 11.1 percent (3-of-27) clip at Appalachian State on Dec. 3, 2023. • The Tigers’ prior season low in made field goals was 24 at Georgia on Jan. 18, while its most recent time with 18 or fewer was when it made 17 against Kentucky on Feb. 17, 2024. • Auburn’s previous low in made 3-pointers this year was six versus Kent State on Nov. 13, 2024, while it last made three at Florida on Feb. 10, 2024. • Baker-Mazara’s 7-of-7 free-throw ledger marked the most makes without a miss by a Tennessee foe this year, eclipsing the 4-of-4 tally by five others. • Saturday’s contest was just the 28th all season, per KenPom, played entirely within a 10-point window, as the Volunteers’ largest lead was four and the Tigers’ was six. • The Volunteers’ 46-game winning streak when leading with 2:00 left in regulation came to an end Saturday night, as did their 44-game winning streak when allowing under 60 points. • Tennessee dropped to 70-8 (.897) under Barnes when holding its opponent to a field-goal clip of 35.0 percent or lower. • Zeigler scored in double figures for the ninth time in the last 10 games, with the lone outlier a nine-point performance. • Zeigler also went 6-of-6 at the free-throw line for the second time in the last three games, with the middle game a 2-of-2 performance. • The 39:14 of court time for Zeigler surpassed the 38:22 he played on Dec. 31, 2024, against Norfolk State for the most by a Volunteer in 2024-25.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The University of Tennessee’s Police Department is warning of a scam targeting students’ families.
UTPD officials say the person running the scam is calling people while posing as a member of the UT Police Department and telling potential victims that their loved one has been arrested. The scammer then demands money, specifically $1,900, to be paid through Venmo or PayPal to circumvent the arrest or to avoid the media being notified.
UTPD says no one from the department will ever ask for money or payments over the phone. They will also never ask for payments through PayPal, Venmo, GreenDot or Western Union.
Officials urge anyone who gets a call like the one described to simply hang up.
UT Police explained that the person making the call is using a variety of spoofed numbers, including local 865 area codes.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) There are two grants to which Knoxville nonprofits can now apply.
Mayor Indya Kincannon has facilitated the Community Agency Grant and the Opioid Abatement Grant to start this year.
The CAG was created to support nonprofits involved in arts and culture and community and social services.
The opioid grants were created to support local organizations that help mitigate and prevent opioid addiction in Knoxville.
This year, the city allocated $300,000 to address opioid addiction in the community.
Groups applying for either grant must operate within Knoxville city limits. For the CAG, organizations must have held a 501c3 for at least five years while organizations only need to have the status for two years for the opioid grants.
Click here for more information and to apply. The deadline to apply is February 21 at 4:00 p.m.
Mayor Indya Kincannon facilitated the Community Agency Grant and Opioid Abatement Grant to start in 2025. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Harriman, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after probable human remains are discovered Friday in Harriman.
According to District Attorney General Russell Johnson, the remains were found behind the KFC in Harriman by utility workers performing brush and tree removal.
An autopsy has been ordered by the Roane County medical examiner once the remains are recovered; that autopsy will take place at the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.
Johnson has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to work with the Harriman Police Department to identify the remains and determine the circumstances surrounding the individual’s death.
Additional information has not been released.
The remains were found behind the KFC in Harriman by utility workers performing some brush and tree removal. (Frankly Media)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has been retained by the family of David Batts, a 46-year-old Knoxville man who tragically died on January 8, 2025, after being brutally beaten and tased by officers at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. Batts had been taken into custody on January 7, where his family believes he suffered severe abuse, leaving him with extensive injuries and a swollen face.
Attorney Crump issued the following statement:
“The death of David Batts is an example of unchecked brutality within the justice system. His family deserves answers, accountability, and justice for this horrific loss. We demand the immediate release of all footage related to David’s death to ensure transparency and hold those involved responsible for this tragedy.”
This comes after Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen says she will not be ordering an investigation into the death of David Batts, who died after being injured by officers inside Knox County’s Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.
Allen says no further criminal investigation by the TBI into the death of Mr. Batts is required because the Medical Examiner’s Preliminary Autopsy Report found that Mr. Batts’ death was not caused by trauma or injury but meningitis.
In addition, urinalysis revealed the presence of fentanyl in Batts’ system. The full autopsy has not yet been released.
