A Monday evening domestic disturbance on Flagler Road ended with two people in handcuffs and a house full of contraband, according to Knoxville police.
Officers say they were called to the home around 5 p.m. for a reported domestic dispute. When they arrived, they detained 36-year-old Jonathan Winters and 33-year-old Hali Conley after brief struggles. A later safety sweep of the residence, followed by a search warrant, turned up firearms-related items and suspected illegal drugs.
What Officers Say They Found
In a post on its official Facebook page, the Knoxville Police Department said officers secured a search warrant for the Flagler Road address and reported finding suspected methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, assorted firearm accessories and ammunition, and a handgun that had been reported stolen in 2017.
The department said Winters appeared to have been involved in a physical altercation with Conley, and that both were detained after brief struggles while officers secured the scene. According to the post, Winters was taken into custody on charges including felon in possession of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, domestic assault, assault on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. Conley faces multiple drug charges, along with resisting arrest and assault on an officer.
Legal Trouble Piles Up
Federal law bars people convicted of felonies from possessing firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives notes that 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) makes it unlawful for certain prohibited persons to ship, transport, receive, or possess firearms or ammunition. Tennessee law also criminalizes firearm possession by people with certain felony convictions and sets out felony penalties for unlawful possession. FindLaw details how state statutes define unlawful possession and the range of potential punishments. Depending on the nature of any prior conviction, unlawful possession can be charged as a serious felony under state law.
Investigation Still Active
The Knoxville Police Department says detectives are continuing to process evidence from the search and follow up on leads as the investigation moves forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact KPD or Crime Stoppers. Department contact information is available on the Knoxville Police Department website.
