DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — The Dalton Police Department (DPD) is asking the public for help in identifying a man who stole tools from Christian Heritage School. Surveillance cameras first captured the suspect at 2:00 a.m., June 8, 2025. He came from the woods behind the school, and walked into the north parking lot where a construction contractor left several conecx…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Four individuals are facing charges after authorities uncovered a drug smuggling operation conducted from inside the Hamilton County Jail. Current inmate Cedrick Williams was suspected of organizing the operation. HCSO says three others, Richard Williams, Andre Hughley, and Markell Ash, were also involved in the scheme. Investigators believe the group used the jail’s phone system…
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…
DEKALB COUNTY, Al. (WDEF) — Three people in DeKalb County have been arrested for possession of methamphetamine. On Wednesday, May 18, 2025, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) conducted a search warrant at a residence on County Road 121. During the search, DCSO located 48 grams of methamphetamine and other various drug paraphernalia. DCSO said three were arrested as a…
JACKSON COUNTY, Al. (WDEF) — A man has been arrested in Jackson County for identity theft after using a false identity to purchase firearms. On October 2, 2024, personnel with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) arrested a male suspect for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Meth/Fentanyl). Upon further investigation, JCSO determined the name and personal identification the suspect used…
UPDATE (6/20/2025): Athens police have obtained surveillance footage of the person driving the dark SUV. According to the Athens City Police Department (ACPD) a white female, age unknown, was driving the SUV. If anyone knows who the driver is, please contact ACPD. ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Athens City Police Department (ACPD) is investigating a fatal motorcycle accident. ACPD…
HUNTSVILLE, Al. (WDEF) — Authorities arrested 60 individuals after shutting down an illegal cockfighting ring in Blount County, Alabama. The Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force led the raid on June 14, 2025. They worked with the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. According to ICE, the operation targeted animal fighting, illegal gambling, and…
CALHOUN, Tenn. (WDEF) — Late Monday night, the Cleveland Fire Department (CFD) responded to a major fire in Calhoun. The fire broke out near the Resolute Products facility and quickly grew in size on June 16, 2025. First responders arrived on scene at 10:45 p.m. and were met with heavy smoke and fire. Crews from several Tri-State Mutual Aid Association…
SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) – This morning, around 12:40, a family in Soddy lost not only their home but also their pets in a house fire. Soddy Daisy Fire Department responded to 115 Nale Road on a reported structure fire. When arriving, fire officials confirm to dispatch a working house fire. Once firefighters confirmed all family members were out of…
CBS: Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in politically motivated shootings overnight, Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday. Hortman, 55, and her husband were shot in their Brooklyn Park home, while Hoffman, 60, and his wife were shot about 5 miles away in their Champlin home. Investigators…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Bonnaroo 2025 is canceled because of the weather. Just one day after thousands arrived for the start of Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN on Thursday they are now all going to have to go home This is only the third time in 23 years Bonnaroo has been cancelled: Once in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A human trafficking investigation in Chattanooga has led to the arrest of two women as part of an undercover operation. On June 9, 2025 law enforcement agencies carried out a targeted operation to crack down on human trafficking and identify potential victims. The operation involved several local and federal agencies. As a result, the TBI said…
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — Two people were arrested after authorities found several emaciated animals following a welfare check. Walker County Animal Control received a complaint about multiple horses that appeared to be malnourished. When they arrived on the property, an investigation was launched into this complaint. According to Walker County, several animals on the property were emaciated and weren’t…
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two people were arrested on Lookout Mountain Monday after two undercover sting operations with several agencies. The Lookout Mountain Police Department (LMPD) received a notification from the FBI and TBI that a man named Jeffery Young was on his way to Lookout Mountain to meet a 15-year-old male for sex. The TBI made contact…
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two individuals were arrested after authorities discovered their involvement in a multi-state PayPal scam that targeted a local resident. Cumberland County authorities received information regarding a potential scam victim in the area. Upon further investigation, deputies with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) located the victim. The victim reported that scammers gained access to his…
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) – Sunday afternoon, around 5:30p.m., the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department respond to a kitchen fire on Carterwood Lane. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they saw smoke showing at the home. Once first responders confirmed everyone was out of the home, they entered the home and quickly extinguish the fire in the kitchen. Dallas Bay fire…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) recovered $12,000 worth of fentanyl during a recent drug bust. On June 4, 2025, HCSO narcotics detectives and SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a 4634 Ruby Red Drive. The following items were located and recovered from the residence: 104 Grams (0.2 pounds) of Fentanyl valued at…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A man wanted out of Rutherford County was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after a police chase ended near the Chattanooga Navy Operations Center. Around 1:35 p.m. on June 5, 2025, officers with the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) began chasing the suspect on I-75. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) joined the pursuit and successfully…
FORT PAYNE, Al. (WDEF) — Two people were arrested after a drug investigation by the Dekalb County Drug Task Force. On May 28, 2025 agents searched a home on County Road 784. Authorities arrested Amanda Rhea Murphy and Mark Anthony Collins. Investigators say the two sold meth to confidential informants. Agents found over 10 pounds of marijuana, meth, pills,…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Multiple people have been arrested after a multi-agency human trafficking operation. From May 30, 2025, to June 1, 2025, local agencies and the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit arrested four individuals. The TBI said the focus of this operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in sex acts with minors and to recover victims of human…
SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF) – Sunday afternoon at 2:51 p.m., Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and walked down the trail to find the injured hiker. A Gentleman called 911 reporting that his wife had fallen at least 50 feet below on the Leggett Trail part of the Cumberland Trail. HCEMS arrived…
COURTESY: Tennessee Department of Military NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) – More than 260 Guardsmen from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment departed from Knoxville and Smyrna, May 30, on their first leg of a nearly year-long deployment to the Middle East. The Soldiers are currently at Fort Cavasos, Texas, performing additional deployment training over the next few weeks…
LAKESITE, Tenn. (WDEF) – Friday night at 9:18p.m., a neighbor reported a house fire located at 2323 Lyons Lane. Firefighters from Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene reporting fire in the garage and moving to other parts of the home. They worked quickly to knock the fire down in the garage and other areas of the home….
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Cleveland Fire Department (CFD) responded to a residential fire early Friday morning. Crews were dispatched to the residence on Truck Street NE. Upon arrival, crews found a fully engulfed resident and immediately began defensive operations. CFD reported the only occupant of the home was able to escape with no injuries. The cause of the fire…
