Willie Hefner	David Kitzmiller

Two men are in jail charged with robbery after snatching the purse of woman who was in the parking lot of a North Knox County business Thursday morning.   Thirty-two year old Willie Hefner of Knoxville is under a $25,000 bond for taking the purse.  Thirty-six year old David Kitzmiller, also of Knoxville, is accused of driving the getaway car and is under a $30,000 bond.  Knox County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to the purse snatching around 9:30 at 604 East Emory Road.  Thirty-eight year old Heather Drewry told the detectives that she was sitting in her vehicle with the door open when Hefner grabbed her purse and pulled her to the ground causing minor cuts and scrapes.  He fled on foot with the purse and was picked up by Kitzmiller.

An officer with the KCSO Highway Interdiction Unit spotted the suspects in their vehicle driving down Emory Road at 9:40 and pulled them over.  Kitzmiller was taken into custody without incident, but Hefner ran.  Patrol Officer Jason Daniels and his K-9 tracked Hefner to Conner Road and took him into custody without incident.  The KCSO helicopter also helped in the search.

Both suspects have extensive criminal histories.  Hefner has drug charges along with theft and burglary.  Kitzmiller has numerous theft and driving without a license charges

36-year-old Claudia Dawn Davis of Knoxville was travelling northbound on Jim Wolfe Road when her white 1986 Ford F-150 pickup truck ran off the shoulder of the road, crossed the double yellow lines, and struck a green 1998 Ford Ranger traveling southbound on Jim Wolfe Road head on.

Davis was pronounced dead on the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt. Speed was a factor. It is unknown at this time whether or not drugs and/or alcohol were factors. T

he driver of the green Ford Ranger, 34-year-old Robert Parson of Maynardville, and his son, 6-year-old Matthew Parson of Maynardville, were transported to UT by Rural Metro with non-life-threatening injuries. Robert Parson was wearing a seatbelt. Matthew Parson was in a booster seat and properly restrained.

A Knoxville man is in the Knox County Detention Facility charged with multiple counts of drug violations.

Thirty-three year old John Edward Smith of Jefferson Avenue was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a KCSO Officer observed the suspect speeding on I-75 South and not wearing a seat belt.

The officer attempted to pull over Smith, but he refused to stop and exited onto Merchants Road.  As he did he threw cocaine out the window.  He continued driving on roads just off Merchants Road throwing more cocaine, marijuana and pills out of the car.

Other officers joined the pursuit and stopped Smith on Victor Drive.  He refused to obey the commands of the officers and was pulled out of the car and arrested.  He said he suffered a leg injury and was transported by Rural Metro to Tennova where he was treated and released.

Officers found the bags of drugs thrown out of the car and estimate the narcotics to be worth over a thousand dollars. They also found scales and other drug paraphernalia in the car and $1,151 dollars on the suspect.  The pills are identified as valium and xanax.

Smith is charged with speeding, fleeing, driving on a revoked license, reckless endangerment, obstructing police/destroying evidence, schedule IV, II, and VI drug violations.

Smith has a criminal history in Knox County of drug violations, aggravated robbery, domestic assault, weapons charges, and traffic violations.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has named Detective Brad Hall as Detective of the Month for December 2011. Detective Hall was honored for his work in two different cases.

The first one resulted in identifying at least six people to be charged in a home robbery case and burglaries in Knox, Loudon, Roane, and Blount counties.

The second case involved robberies at several Lowes in Knox, Sevier, and Blount counties. As a result of Hall’s investigation, eight people may be charged in the case.

Detective Hall has been with KCSO since July 1990.

Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones announces that the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Academy will graduate 27 recruits on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Detention Facility at 5001 Maloneyville Road.

This graduating class completed ten weeks of intense training to meet the criteria set by this Basic Police School. These officers spend much of their time learning the law, arrest procedures, and community policing. They also develop expertise in the tools of the profession, such as firearms, driving, and defensive tactics.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker will be District Attorney General Randy Nichols. The ceremony will also include the presentation of POST certificates to the students. The students will find out during the ceremony the winners of the Physical Fitness Award, the Firearms Proficiency Award, the Driving Proficiency Award, the Academic Achievement Award, the Mark Currier Memorial Achievement Award, and the James Kennedy Outstanding Officer Award.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy is now in its 15th year, and has graduated 513 law enforcement officers. “Each officer goes into the community with the skill and calm reason needed for such a demanding job,” said Sheriff Jones.

A suspect wanted on a domestic assault charge held officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at bay for over two hours Tuesday night.

Forty-six year old Fred Bailey hid under a camper in back of the Clark Motel on Clinton Highway after he was spotted in the area by officers around 6:30.  Bailey threatened to shoot a K-9 that was sent under the camper and bit him at least once.  Bailey was armed with a shotgun and a 22 rifle.  SWAT and Negotiation Teams arrived at the site and negotiators talked with Bailey for over two hours until he surrendered.  He was taken into custody at 8:54 and transported to Mercy North for treatment of the dog bite.  He is charged with domestic assault and has a $15,000 bond.

The domestic assault charge stems from an earlier call at the motel where Bailey and his live-in girlfriend reside.  Forty-two year old Kelly Hoffman told officers that she and Bailey had been arguing since 4:30 that morning.  According to the warrant, she said she tried to leave, but he prevented her from getting to the door.  She then locked herself in the bedroom, but he kicked the door down and the door hit her in the head causing seizures.  She was able to get away around 2 p.m. and fled to a neighbor’s place where she called 911 and was transported to a hospital for treatment.   She said the suspect had a shotgun and 22 rifle.

Officers had responded to the area twice after Bailey was seen and had called out Airwatch to help in the search.  Bailey has a previous charge of criminal impersonation.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office continued its investigation of illegal gambling operations last night with another raid on a poker establishment.

Officers found four gaming tables and seized approximately $4,000 at “Pac” located at 8705 Union Drive, Suite A104.

Officers then went to 151 West End Avenue and to Perimeter Park, but both places had been tipped off and had shut down their operations.  There were no arrests, but the information gathered will be turned over to the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office for possible prosecution.

Deputies earlier this week seized four video poker machines.  They confiscated two at the Sutherland Avenue Deli, one at Suzie Q’s Bar on Maryville Pike, and one at McDonald’s Billiards on Chapman Highway.

This continuing investigation stems from last Wednesday night’s raid of a gambling club at 7311 Asheville Highway.

The Knox County Sheriff's Department investigation into a gambling operation in East Knox County continues.

Officers confiscated approximately $42,000 Wednesday night.  They also confiscated four weapons from four patrons who had permits.

Despite having the permits, the people were in an illegal gambling establishment.  It will now be up to the state to determine if their permits will be revoked.

Eight gaming tables were seized and will be destroyed.

Officers will not say how long the gambling club located at 7311 Asheville Highway had been in operation but say that it was becoming well-known.