On Friday September 3, Detectives with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of Blount County and Scott County Sheriff’s Offices executed search and arrest warrants for eight individuals at 5 different locations. Charges included theft, and money laundering. The suspects were arrested after a 10 month long investigation involving the theft and sell of catalytic converters.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office had representatives from Property Crimes, Organized Retail Crime, Narcotics, Family Crimes, Warrants Units, Forensics, Digital Intelligence Unit, Fire and Explosive Unit, and the Legal Division in addition, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Blount County Sheriff’s Office had personnel on scene for a total of approximately 50 Officers and support staff.
I would like you to be mindful while a very large scale operation is now out of business, we need the citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Friday, we took the steps necessary to remove a large and in depth criminal organization who have been preying on the citizens of Knox County and East Tennessee. Investigations like this one, can take months to conduct as we want to ensure these type organizations are completely dismantled once the investigation is complete.
“The work by these Detectives and our supporting units is to be commended. I am very proud of them and honored to have them at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. We are grateful for the work and cooperation by the assisting agencies and retail partners. We are proud of these working relationships and what they mean to all of our citizens in Knox County and all over East Tennessee.” – Tom Spangler, Sheriff
The individuals that were arrested are as follows:
Tegan Lee Cain, 25 of Knoxville
Earnest Stephen Bradley, 42 of Knoxville
Rhea Christopher Browder, 32 of Knoxville
Edward Carmack Browder, 45 of Knoxville
Kalab Andrew Eskew, 38 of Scott County
William Duane Hall, 42 of Blount County
James Robert Glaze, 44 of Knoxville
Damien Ogorman, 66 of Knoxville
OUTSIDE AGENCIES WHO ASSISTED
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Fire Department, Knoxville Police Department, Lenoir City Police Department, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Ridge Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Sibley Police Department (Louisiana), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Knoxville Field Office
SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE PARTNERS
Pull-A-Part
Home Depot
Kroger
This is an active and ongoing investigation. We will release more information as it becomes available.