Knoxville Police Officer Razmig Semerdjian has been named the Knoxville Police Department's Officer of the Month for January after what his bosses describe as a cool‑headed response to a chaotic and deadly night on I‑640.
The award was handed out during the department's night‑shift roll call on Monday, where Semerdjian was recognized for quickly locating and helping apprehend a suspected wrong‑way driver involved in a fatal crash on January 18. Knoxville police say his actions aided the investigation into the collision that left a motorcyclist dead.
Semerdjian singled out for calm under pressure
According to a post by the Knoxville Police Department - TN, Semerdjian was honored for his "composure, decisive action and quick response" after he located and helped apprehend a wrong‑way driver. The department notes the award was presented during the night‑shift roll call and highlights that the officer stayed steady under pressure while the situation unfolded. The Facebook post serves as the department's public acknowledgment of his work that night.
Wrong‑way crash on I‑640 kills motorcyclist
Per a Knoxville Police Department news release, officers were called around 7:15 p.m. on January 18 about a vehicle headed the wrong way on I‑640 West near the Broadway exit. The vehicle collided with a westbound motorcycle, and the rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
The department said the occupants of the vehicle ran off before officers arrived. Investigators later found the vehicle's owner in the 4600 block of Old Broadway and took him into custody. Police identified the suspect as 27‑year‑old Eric Ramon Alcantara‑Guevara and said charges were forthcoming as the investigation continued.
Local coverage details charges and investigation
Local reporting later confirmed that Alcantara‑Guevara was charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident, with court records reflecting those counts. As reported by WVLT, investigators were aided by witness statements, and police said a passenger in the vehicle cooperated with the investigation and helped identify the driver.
Legal status
According to WVLT, Alcantara‑Guevara faces charges including vehicular homicide, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident knowing death resulted, and prosecutors have filed those charges. Per the Knoxville Police Department, the investigation remains active and the victim's identity is being withheld until next of kin can be notified. The department also noted that officers located and detained the vehicle's owner shortly after the crash in the Old Broadway area, and arraignment information will be available through Knox County court records.
Both the department's Facebook announcement and local reporting frame Semerdjian's Officer of the Month recognition as a nod to a fast, professional response in a high‑stakes situation. For now, KPD has emphasized the work of patrol officers in quickly tracking down the vehicle and identifying the suspect, with ongoing coverage from WVLT as the case moves through the courts.
