The Knoxville Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards will review the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who was detained during a search warrant on Sunday night.

At around 9:20 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2024, members of the KPD’s Special Operations Squad assisted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in serving a search warrant at an apartment at The Ammons apartment complex on Asheville Highway. The search warrant was obtained as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation being led by the TBI’s Drug Investigations Division.

SOS personnel entered the department and detained multiple individuals. SOS personnel remained on scene to assist with scene security.

While SOS officers were still on scene, one of the subjects who was detained, a 57-year-old man, reported that he did not feel well. Medical assistance was requested and arrived at the scene just before 10 p.m. The subject was transported to the UT Medical Center via AMR, where his condition quickly and for unknown reasons deteriorated. The subject passed away a short time after his arrival at UTMC.

A preliminary review of the body-camera footage indicated that no force was used in the detainment. Additionally, the preliminary review of the pertinent body-camera footage did not show any violations of departmental policy or procedure.

The TBI Criminal Investigation Division will lead the investigation into the in-custody death. Per standard protocol, KPD’s Office of Professional Standards will conduct an internal, administrative investigation to ensure there were no violations of policy or procedure. No officers have been placed on administrative leave or assignment at this time.