UPDATE (Nov. 13, 2020): A Knoxville man is facing charges after police responded to a kidnapping and assault Thursday.
A Knoxville Police Department spokesman said the kidnapping victim, Vanessa Brown, 21, was found safe and unharmed Thursday evening.
They said that around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, officers responded after Brown was allegedly kidnapped by a man, Clifford Leroy Blair, 28, from Knoxville. They said that Blair held her against her will and ran away with Brown.
According to court records, a woman said she took Brown to an apartment to get some food items. The woman said as she waited in the car, she saw her cousin, Blair, holding a knife at her driver's side window. She said Blair then broke the window with the knife, and as she pleaded for him to leave she said he struck her throat with his hand before picking her up and slamming her to the ground.
Police said the woman suffered an injury to her right arm, and Blair then threatened Brown, saying he would kill her if she did not come with him.
After responding to the call, police said they launched a large-scale search that included KPD Search and Rescue units, the Criminal Investigation Division and the Knox County Sheriff's Office Airwatch. The search was concentrated on Montgomery Village, officials said.
Six hours later, at around 6:40 p.m., Brown was found safe in the area of Avenue C and Julian Street, officials said. Blair was taken into custody around Drive D, police said.
Blair is charged with aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping in the incident. He also had warrants for aggravated domestic assault and domestic assault from previous incidents.
Original Story:
The Knoxville Police Department said that they are investigating a possible South Knoxville kidnapping involving a 21-year-old woman.
They said that Vanessa Brown, 21, was last seen on Cook Drive at around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. No information about what she was wearing, or identifying features, was immediately available.
Police also did not give information about the circumstances leading to the investigation.
They said that anyone who has information about her location should call 911 immediately.
This story will be updated when more information is available.