Knox County deputy critically injured in the line of duty
UPDATE: The suspect, Christopher Michael Hensley, 44, of Powell, has been charged with the following:
- Attempted Second-Degree Murder
- Aggravated Assault on First Responder
- Domestic Assault
- Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Go Armed
- Manufacturing/Delivering/Selling/Possession of a Controlled Substance
The suspect is in custody at this time.
The Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.
The suspect’s identity and list of charges will be forthcoming.
Deputy Swanger remains in the Intensive Care Unit.
We appreciate your prayers and are grateful for the support from our community.
We will continue to update as more information becomes available.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident that occurred on 6/21/2025, in the 7800 block of Stanley Road.
A complainant called 911 to report someone shooting just before 10:15 p.m.
When deputies arrived, there was an incident with the suspect, which resulted in injuries to Deputy Dalton Swanger.
During the incident, the suspect struck Deputy Swanger with a large rock or brick.
Deputy Swanger was transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) for immediate medical attention and was confirmed to be in critical condition.
The Sheriff’s Office actively searched for the suspect involved in this incident.
Efforts are underway to gather further details about the circumstances leading up to the injury, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Sheriff Tom Spangler stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Swanger and his family during this challenging time. We are committed to thoroughly investigating this matter and are utilizing all available resources to apprehend the individual responsible. I am at the hospital with Deputy Swanger and asking our community to do what they do best—pray!”
For further updates, please monitor their social media and our official website.
