x
Breaking News
More () »

KCSO investigating threats against county commissioners

Justin Biggs said someone in an email threatened his family.
Knox County Commission meeting on Oct. 23, 2017.

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — The Knox County Sheriff's Office is investigating recent threats made against several county commissioners.

Spokeswoman Kimberly Glenn confirmed the investigation but said she couldn't address specifics. It arose last week.

Commission Justin Biggs was one recipient of the threat, an email.

The author threatened to hurt him and his family. Several other commissioners got the same email along with some other Knox County officeholders. The email was also sent to others no longer with the county.

An internal note from KCSO shows it was sent from a Google account and appeared to be of a "cookie cutter," cut-and-paste nature.

It doesn't appear to pose a viable threat, the internal note states, but officials are still urged to use caution.

Biggs said occasional complaints from the public come with the job. But he can't abide anyone threatening his family, he said.

Biggs said he's appreciated and been impressed with the response of the Sheriff's Office.

"The men and women of the Sheriff's Office -- their efforts have been great," Biggs said. "Anytime you get a death threat it's serious, but it's the times we live in in our country."

Biggs said Friday's bombing by a man in downtown Nashville is a reminder to be vigilant for violence and to take suspicious behavior seriously.

Before You Leave, Check This Out