Monday morning in Rockwood started with more of a stampede than a stroll when a deer crashed through a glass entrance at the Roane County Shopping Center, slamming into an unoccupied storefront and cutting itself on the broken glass. Rockwood police and animal control officers quickly responded, removed the animal from the building, and later returned it to the wild outside city limits.
Officers Find Deer in Vacant Storefront
According to WATE 6 On Your Side, a caller reported an "animal problem" at 10:57 a.m. at an empty unit on the 1400 block of Gateway Avenue. When officers arrived, they found the deer standing in the front lobby after it had shattered a glass door. Rockwood Animal Control checked the animal’s lacerations, provided treatment, then released it outside the city limits.
Where It Happened
Per the City of Rockwood business directory, North Gateway Avenue is the city’s main retail corridor and includes the Roane County Shopping Center along with nearby storefronts on the 1400 block. That high-traffic location helps explain how officers and animal control were able to get there quickly and secure the scene.
How to Handle Injured Wildlife
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency advises residents to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local animal control instead of trying to treat an injured wild deer on their own, noting that deer rehabilitation is tightly regulated in Tennessee. For details on permitted rehabilitators and how to report injured wildlife, see TWRA guidance from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Rockwood police reported no injuries to people, according to WATE. Animal control cleared the scene after completing its evaluation of the deer, and the department did not immediately indicate any further action for the vacant storefront.
