Broken Brake light leads to Knoxville man being charged

A routine traffic stop within Loudon County has led to a Knoxville man facing several drug-related charges.

On Tuesday, Oct.

15, Deputy Ronnie Willis with the Loudon County Sheriff ’s Office was traveling south on Old Highway 95 when he observed a Ford van without working brake lights.

Upon further investigation, Loudon County Dispatch confirmed that the vehicle’s registration had expired in November 2023.

According to the report obtained by The News-Herald, Deputy Willis initiated a traffic stop at a local gas station and made contact with the driver, who was identified as 36-year-old William Blake Malone of Knoxville.

Malone reportedly showed nervous behavior such as erratic speech and stuttering. Malone also said that he was aware of the registration being expired and lights not working.

Willis then ran Malone’s driver’s license through the Loudon County Dispatch for status and local warrants. While still seated in the vehicle, Deputy Willis asked Malone for consent to search the vehicle.

According to the report, Malone hesitated for a minute before answering “no.” … Willis then had Malone exit his vehicle and accompany him to the front of his patrol vehicle while he started his citation process.

While speaking with Malone, he did make Willis aware that he had a prior narcotic history. Deputy Curtis arrived on the scene and deployed K-9 Loki on the vehicle.

Deputy Curtis advised that his K-9 partner had alerted him to the driver- side window of the vehicle. Deputy Curtis and Deputy Knight then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle.

During the probable cause search, Deputy Curtis located a metal tin between the driver seat and center console containing two baggies of what they believed to be methamphetamine.

According to reports, Deputy Knight also located two grinders with marijuana residue — as well as a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and a rolling tray with a roller.

At this time, Dispatch confirmed Malone had a local warrant for Failure to Appear in Sessions Court of Loudon County. Willis then took Malone into custody and transported him to the Loudon County Detention Facility for the active warrant, as well as Manufacture, Delivery, Sale or Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

According to reports, narcotics investigators later tested the substance via TruNarc and reported that it tested positive for Methamphetamine and weighed 4.7 grams.

Malone was charged with capias general session, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, manufacture, delivery, sale or Possession of methamphetamine and was held on $13,000 bond.