Suspect in custody after police presence in West Hills (Courtesy: TDOT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office take a suspect into custody after descending upon the West Hills area Wednesday afternoon in response to a domestic call on Mallard Bay Drive.
KCSO officials say deputies responded to a situation on Mallard Bay Drive, but the suspect had left by the time they got there. A short time later, deputies reportedly tracked the individual down near the West Hills I-40 exit ramp.
The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Michael Soch was taken into custody. He is charged with assault.
The Sevier County Emergency Management Agency and the City of Gatlinburg will conduct an Emergency Alert Systems test on all the Outdoor Warning Siren Systems in Sevier County between noon and 12:30 p.m. today.
There are 15 different sirens in Sevier County and 9 in Gatlinburg which provide two different types of alerts. Mechanical sirens provide an audible siren only, while modulator units provide an audible siren and verbal instructions.
Don’t be alarmed, it’s only a test. Cellphones across the country will sound at 2:20p when FEMA and the FCC run a test of the Emergency Alert system..
You should only receive the alert on your cellphone once, a message in either English or Spanish reading “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Televisions, and radios will also broadcast a similar alert from 2:20-2:50p.
The EAS system is used to alert the public during emergencies such as natural disasters, Amber Alerts and other safety threats.
Zoo Knoxville announced the loss of one of their zebras on Tuesday. Die Toekoms was an eight-year-old Hartmann’s mountain zebra who zoo officials said died after complications with his intestines.
Officials said caretakers noticed Die Toekoms was showing signs of gastrointestinal discomfort and gave him medication to help ease the pain.
They discovered a bowel obstruction and then transported Die Toekoms to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for emergency surgery.
Zoo Knoxville officials said they discovered a large section of Die Toekoms’ small intestine had twisted. Because surgeons determined that he would not be able to recover, the zebra was humanely euthanized.
“Unfortunately, despite our rapid intervention and the skilled team working to save him, the prognosis for Die Toekoms was grim,” said Phil Colclough, Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education. “The kindest thing we could do was make sure he left this world peacefully and with dignity.”
Die Toekoms arrived at Zoo Knoxville in 2018 and fathered two offspring, Mosi and Rosi, who both live at Zoo Knoxville.
It marks the third zebra death at Zoo Knoxville in the last few years. One died in March of 2021, and another died in April of this year.
East Tennessee is mourning the loss of Knox County Sheriff’s deputy 29 year-old Tucker Blakely who lost his life after being shot in the line of duty.
Last (Tuesday) night, a group of University of Tennessee students honoing Blakely by painting the Rock on campus.
The students spent around two hours and about $100 worth of spray paint to create the memorial. The bottom of the Rock shares the message, “God bless law enforcement,” with “Officer Blakely 1994-2023″ written on the side. Hundreds if not thousands of students will walk past the Rock today (Wednesday) and remember Officer Tucker Blakely.
Ty is Tucker’s brother and Maynardville’s Mayor and there is a memorial set up outside of the Maynardville City Hall in Tucker Blakely’s honor.
The Maynardville Police Department is remembering Officer Tucker Blakely by wearing a memorial band over their badges as well as Knoxville Police and several other law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee.
Funeral arrangements for Blakely have not been announced.
Tennessee OSHA officials are investigating the death of a worker in Powell.
TOSHA officials were notified yesterday that a worker died in a construction site in the Mockingbird Meadows Drive area. An investigator went to the scene to look into the circumstances that led to the worker’s death.
They say it usually takes eight to 10 weeks to investigate fatalities and they will only release more information once their investigation is complete.
District 52 Representative Justin Jones (Courtesy: Tennessee House of Representatives, Official Photo)
Nashville, TN (WOKI) In a federal lawsuit filed today Tuesday, State Representative Justin Jones of Nashville has gone after Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and others, claiming “unconstitutional” censorship of him and the views of those he represents.
According to Jones’ complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the District 52 Representative is seeking a declaratory judgement that his expulsion from the House earlier this year and the House Rules for the 113th General Assembly be ruled “unconstitutional.”
In addition, Jones is seeking to be immediately and retroactively restored to all of his previous committee assignments and awarded any damages to which he may be entitled.
Jones, taking to X (formerly Twitter), today to announce the filing:
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.
The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
Important information about the EAS test:
The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.
Official statement from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office: Sunday, October 1, 2023, at approximately 11:15 pm KCSO Officer Tucker Blakely, alongside his Echo Shift Colleagues, responded to a home in West Knox County to a call for help from a family in need. And they did what they do each and every day, answer the call. Once on scene, and for reasons still under investigation, a man began firing at KCSO Officers. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Officer Blakely was shot in the exchange of gunfire. He was rushed by AMR to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where, despite the efforts of EMS and the UT Medical Team, he died as a result of those injuries.
We are in the very early stages of answering a lot of questions and most importantly, caring for the Blakely Family and our Knox County Sheriff’s Office Family. That will remain our focus in the many days to come.
Currently we are fully cooperating with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and their teams as they lead this extremely difficult and meticulous investigation.
We often attempt to help our community understand the risks that our heroes in blue take on each and every day for the citizens and visitors of Knox County. And no matter the circumstances or the danger involved, they never fail to rise to the occasion and deliver their best to those in need. But today is a very painful reminder of just how fragile life can be and how brave and selfless our Officers are. And it’s a horrible reminder that while our Officers go to work and deliver that service for you, they leave wives, husbands, teenagers, little babies, moms, dads, grandparents, brothers, and sisters, behind at home, not knowing what the day will bring. Our Officers and their families need your support now more than ever.
Officer Tucker Blakely was 29 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Katarina, and a beautiful little 5-year-old son. Officer Blakely graduated the Knox County Regional Training Academy in 2021. Recently he was selected as a candidate for KCSO’s K-9 Handlers course. His K9 Partner had just been placed with him two days prior to him being shot. Tucker had dreams of being a K9 Handler and was excited for this new step in his career. It is unfortunate that Officer Blakely will never be able to live out that dream. The life of a servant taken far too soon. In addition to serving his community, Officer Blakely also proudly served his country in the United States Army. We are better for having known Tucker. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office will remain faithful in honoring his memory!
We will be providing more information, including the details and arrangements to honor our fallen hero, Tucker Blakely, as it becomes available in the days ahead. We ask for your prayers, your kindness, and your patience as we navigate this difficult journey.
The entire Blakely family is requesting privacy at this time – they need time to process what has occurred and ask all media to please respect their wishes as they grieve and learn to navigate a new normal without Tucker.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of one of their own.
29 year-old Deputy Tucker Blakely died at the UT Medical Center last night after being shot in the line of duty responding to a domestic call on Denver Lane in West Knoxville Sunday night.
Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler says Officer Blakely is a hero who lived as a hero and died as a hero. He leaves behind a wife and a 5-year-old son. Blakely was moving on in his career, he was set to become a K-9 officer in a matter of days. Sheriff Spangler asking everyone to please “Keep Tucker’s family in your thoughts,”.
He was also an Army veteran and a graduate of Powell High School.
Other agencies and Knox County-area leaders offering support to KCSO and Deputy Blakely, with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacob releasing a statement on Twitter, along with Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
KCSO Facebook Page Photo
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the agency in charge of this case and this is their statement:
The deceased individual at the scene has been identified as Matthew Logan Rose (DOB: 10/17/92).
At the request of 6th Judicial District Attorney General Charme Allen, TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances leading to a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday night involving deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Knox County dispatch received a call regarding a domestic situation at a home in the 3200 block of Denver Lane in Knoxville. Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded and encountered an armed individual at the residence. For reasons still under investigation, the situation escalated and shots were fired by both the individual and at least one of the deputies. The male subject was struck and pronounced deceased at the scene. One of the officers was also struck by gunfire and was transported to an area hospital with very serious injuries.
TBI agents continue to work to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for her review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters; that decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
Aerosmith announces PEACE OUT tour (Courtesy: Valeska Thomas)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Rock legends Aerosmith have postponed their Knoxville “PEACE OUT” tour stop.
The four-time Grammy award-winning group kicked off their 40-stop North American tour on September 2.
Ticketmaster notified Knoxville ticket-holders Monday that the show, scheduled previously for January 13 at Thompson-Boling Arena, has been postponed. The show has yet to be rescheduled, but officials say tickets for January’s date will be honored.
A statement from the bands adds that founding member, drummer Joey Kramer, will sit out the remainder of the tour dates due to family and health concerns.
