Knoxville police say a weekend patrol turned into a serious arrest after a woman reported she was pistol-whipped during an argument, sending officers looking for 31-year-old Matthew Childress. By Saturday afternoon, officers had Childress in handcuffs in the 400 block of Broadway, along with a loaded stolen handgun and more than 13 grams of suspected methamphetamine, according to authorities. The woman was left with a swollen eye and a cut on her head, and Childress now faces a slate of aggravated assault and weapons-related charges ahead of a Monday bond hearing.
What the police say
Arrest warrants reviewed by WVLT state that the woman told officers Childress struck her with a handgun "about six or seven times" during a verbal dispute. The reported pistol-whipping left her with a swollen eye and a gash on the side of her head. According to the warrants, officers were already patrolling the 400 block of Broadway on Saturday when they spotted Childress and detained him without incident.
Seized weapons and drugs
The Knoxville Police Department said officers recovered a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen during the arrest, along with more than 13 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to WIVK. Police say the arrest followed a report made late Friday night, and investigators are now processing the evidence linked to the case.
Charges and next steps
Officials said Childress is facing multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and theft of a firearm. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a bond hearing, according to WVLT.
