The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office says an investigation has resulted in a couple being indicted for theft from the Anderson County Rescue Squad.
Alex and Jessica Ridenour served as volunteers for the rescue squad until they resigned in May 2022.
While serving as volunteers, investigators determined they stole rescue squad funds totaling almost $40,000 between May 2021 and April 2022.
They also wrote 17 unauthorized checks from the rescue squad bank account to Jessica totaling over $35,000 and five unauthorized checks to Alex totaling $4,300.
They were indicted on multiple counts including theft of property, forgery and conspiracy to commit theft of property over $10,000.
An 11-year-old student is charged for threat of mass violence after an investigation into an incident at Vine Middle School.
A Knoxville Police Department School Resource Officer responded to Vine Middle School to investigate a report that a male student had made a school-shooting threat yesterday (Tuesday).
Knox County School Security and KPD Violent Crimes Unit detectives went to the student’s home and no weapons were found and detectives were told that the student did not have access to weapons.
After consulting with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, the student was charged for making a threat of mass violence and was taken into custody.
The threat is not believed to be related to the other school-related threats circulating on social media.
Oak Ridge, TN (WOKI) Oak Ridge High School students will honor first responders Wednesday during a ceremony memorializing the tragic events of 9/11.
The ceremony gets underway at 8:00 a.m. in the bus loop area of the school located at 135 Providence Road in Oak Ridge.
This is the 22nd year Oak Ridge High School students will commemorate the somber occasion.
The complete agenda for this year’s September 11 Memorial Service is as follows:
8:10- Student Council and ROTC report to the 9/11 Memorial Site 8:10- First Responders arrive 8:20- Speech by Student Council Executives 8:30- Flag ceremony and playing of taps followed by presentation of memorial wreath 8:35- Moment of silence and thank you cards distributed to first responders.
This is the 22nd year Oak Ridge High School students will commemorate the somber occasion. (Courtesy: exploreoakridge.com)
UPDATE: (9/10/24 9:48 p.m.) Today (Tuesday), the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Crimes Unit responded to multiple reports of school threats-
The first threat came this morning at approximately 0815 from Carter Middle School. It involved a student threatening to shoot up the school. It resulted in the arrest of a 13-year-old, 8th-grade student.
While that investigation was ongoing, the Juvenile Crimes Unit was aware of a second threat at Halls Middle School. That investigation is believed to be connected to another ongoing investigation.
The third response this morning was to Halls High School. That threat was also determined to be a repost of the original threat from social media.
The fourth response was to Gibbs High School, which involved a different school threat on social media. This investigation is also ongoing.
The fifth response today by the Juvenile Crimes Unit involved yet another post to social media. This investigation resulted in the arrest of a 12-year-old, 7th-grade West Valley Middle School student for threats made online.
The 6th response was a bomb threat at Halls Middle School. No arrest has been made in that investigation.
Today, the 7th school threat was at Hardin Valley Academy. That investigation is ongoing. – Kimberly Glenn, KCSO Spokesperson
Original story: Knoxville, TN (WOKI) On the heels of back-to-back threats Friday at Halls High School comes word Tuesday afternoon of yet another investigation into an online threat to area schools.
Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say its juvenile crimes unit is actively investigating an online threat that has been circulating naming numerous schools; the release to media did not provide the names of schools targeted in the threat.
According to data from District Attorney Charme Allen’s office, with just over a month into Knox County’s 2024-’25 school year, ten people are facing charges related to school threats.
Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler doubling-down on his promise Tuesday to “charge those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
KCSO officials are asking anyone with information that may assist them in their ongoing investigations to please call 865-215-2243.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) “Hot work” being conducted on one level of Neyland Stadium is reportedly to blame for a small trash fire Tuesday morning at the venue.
Knoxville Fire Department officials say crews responded around 10:30 extinguishing the fire quickly which had broken out in a mechanical room near Gate 15.
KFD reports the room suffered some smoke and fire damage, but no mechanical equipment was damaged in the incident.
No injuries were reported.
Knoxville Fire Department puts out trash fire at Neyland Stadium. (Courtesy: KFD)
Fox news reporting the suspect in the Kentucky I-75 mass shooting sent this disturbing text “I’m going to kill a lot of people” shortly before Saturday’s attack that wounded five people. The manhunt for 32-year-old Joseph Couch, who served in the Army Reserve for over five years, is entering its fourth day.
He also sent another message that read, “I’ll kill myself afterwards.”
Officials say their goal is to “apply steady pressure at wearing Mr. Couch down” as they continue their search in and around the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Couch faces 5 counts of attempted murder and 5 counts of first-degree assault. There’s a $15,000 collective reward for information that leads to his arrest.
All five victims who were seriously wounded are expected to recover.
UNION COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Maynardville woman.
In August, at the request of 8th Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler, TBI agents began investigating allegations of misconduct involving an employee with the Union County Clerk’s Office. During the investigation, agents learned that Whitney Goins (DOB: 9/3/86), while employed at the clerk’s office, fraudulently used a credit card she obtained from a citizen. Goins was terminated from the clerk’s office last month.
On Friday, a Union County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Goins with one count of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and one count of Official Misconduct. Today, she was arrested and booked into the Union County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says an investigation has revealed a juvenile making a threat of possible school shootings that would happen today (Tuesday) is a hoax.
JCSO says Jefferson County Schools administrators and SROs began investigating the threat, which involved a possible school shooting that would happen at two schools in Jefferson County, after it was found on TikTok.
Officials with the School Safety Division and the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security found the post last (Monday) night and revealed that the entire threat was created by a juvenile and deemed a hoax.
The investigation’s findings will now be sent to school administrators and the Attorney General’s Office.
JSCO says Jefferson County Schools and their Office will always take all threats seriously and investigate them to the fullest.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, along with various other agencies, has responded to Sunnyview Elementary School in East Knox County.
KCSO officials, in a release to media this (Monday) afternoon just before 3:30, say a child told a teacher they thought they saw someone in the woods near the playground.
As a precaution, KCSO dispatched several units to the school and also deployed AirWatch.
Additionally, officials say KPD and THP also sent units to the scene.
At this time, no one has been located. The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution.
According to a representative with KCSO, a child told a teacher they thought they had seen someone in a wooded area near the school’s playground. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: Two people are dead and an investigation is underway following a crash Monday morning on I-40 East in West Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the single-vehicle crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. near the I-640 East ramp.
KPD says evidence from the scene indicates the involved vehicle was traveling east on the I-40 ramp to I-640 when it ran off the road to the right for reasons that remain unknown, striking a guardrail.
The two occupants, identified as Florida residents, were pronounced dead at the scene.
UPDATE: An investigation is underway after two people are killed in a single vehicle crash on I 40 in West Knoxville. The I-40 East ramp to I-640 East has reportedly reopened following this morning’s crash.
ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation is underway after two people are killed in a single vehicle crash on I 40 in West Knoxville.
As of 11 a.m., the I-40 East ramp to I-640 East is closed temporarily as KPD crash reconstruction personnel remain on scene of this morning’s (Monday) crash. The right lane and shoulder are also blocked.
