(Courtesy Oliver Springs Police Department)
On 8/1/25 just after midnight, Patrol Officers checked a suspicious vehicle in a closed convenience store parking lot at 574 E Tri County Blvd. Upon arrival, officers observed a driver unconscious and partially hanging out of the driver’s side door. The officer approached the vehicle and conducted a brief investigation of the welfare of the occupant.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the driver was taken into custody. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers discovered two suspected explosive devices within the vehicle. The Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad has been contacted and is currently on scene to assess and neutralize the devices.
The occupant of the vehicle, a 35-year-old male from Thorn Hill, TN, was charged with Public Intoxication, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Possession of a Hoax Explosive Device.
The incident remains under investigation and further charges are pending. Authorities urge the public to avoid the area, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity.