Seven teenage males, all juveniles, were arrested after Knoxville Police Department officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle on Tuesday afternoon.

At around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, KPD officers spotted a Hyundai SUV on Maryville Pike that was reported stolen in Sevier County. Officers attempted to stop the SUV, but the driver did not stop and sped away.

At around 1:45 p.m., a resident reported that two unknown individuals wearing all black had run through their yard. It was further reported that those individuals had gone to a home in the 5300 block of W. Martin Mill Pike.

One of the juveniles who was in the stolen car was located in the home, while the other six juveniles were located inside of a camper behind the home.

Four exited the camper and were taken into custody without incident.

One juvenile, a 16-year-old male armed with two firearms, refused to come out of the camper and barricaded himself inside.

KPD crisis negotiators were requested to the scene. Due to the address being outside of city limits, Knox County Sheriff’s Office negotiators and additional personnel responded to the scene as well.

After over 90 minutes of negotiations, in coordination with KCSO personnel, the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Another juvenile was found hiding inside the camper following the resolution of the barricaded situation.

Two firearms were recovered in addition to numerous suspected Hydrocodone pills. The stolen SUV was found abandoned a short distance from the residence on W. Martin Mill. 

All seven juveniles were taken into custody on various charges related to auto theft, weapon possession, and evading arrest.