What started as a rash of smashed car windows at a West Knoxville apartment complex ended with one suspect pulled from a trunk, and three handguns recovered, including one police believe was taken from a resident on site.
Two people were arrested after a series of car break-ins at Meadowood Apartments on Pleasant Ridge Road in West Knoxville, where multiple vehicles were found with shattered glass, and at least one handgun was reported missing. Officers say they ultimately found Chandler Tate hiding in the trunk of a car and later located Michale White at a nearby gas station while canvassing the area. When Tate was detained, police reported he had a window punch tool, a black glove, and cash in his pockets, and investigators say they recovered three handguns from the vehicle, including one believed to belong to a Meadowood resident.
How officers tracked the suspects
According to court documents obtained by WVLT, officers were called after several vehicles at Meadowood Apartments were discovered with their windows smashed out. One victim told police that a handgun had been taken from their car. Those same documents say officers later found three handguns inside the vehicle where Tate was discovered, with two of them believed to have been stolen from other jurisdictions. The paperwork also notes that officers located White at a nearby gas station following the initial canvass of the area.
What happens to recovered guns
The Knoxville Police Department's Property Management unit states that firearms classified as evidence are not released without a court order or written authorization from the district attorney or the arresting officer. The unit also notes that any release of a firearm requires background checks and ATF checks before the transfer can happen. As a result, recovered weapons typically stay in police custody while investigations and possible prosecutions move forward. Residents who believe a firearm taken from their property has been recovered are instructed to contact KPD's Property Management unit for guidance on how to proceed.
Why guns stolen from cars matter
National reporting has found that guns stolen from vehicles are a major pipeline for weapons that later turn up in other crimes, and most stolen firearms are never recovered. A long-form investigation by The Trace reported that vehicle break-ins account for a large share of firearm thefts in many cities, and it urged gun owners not to leave firearms in their cars. Local departments often echo that advice, recommending that residents remove guns from vehicles entirely or secure them in lockboxes when they must be left behind.
What’s next
Court documents obtained by WVLT say that Michale White and Chandler Tate are facing charges related to the car break-ins, though specific filing details have not yet been released. Investigators are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Knoxville Police Department and advise property owners to have their KPD report numbers ready when following up on their cases.
