KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Plastic bags filled with a foul-smelling liquid have been found multiple times in a South Knoxville neighborhood, dumped on roads and in ditches.
They were found so often that neighbors began complaining to authorities, and the Knox County Sheriff's Office said it is now investigating how the bags keep ending up on Pickens Gap Road. Neighbors said over the past eight weeks, around 25 bags have been photographed. One was found Thursday afternoon.
Residents said they are not only concerned about its stench but also about how the bags can impact wildlife and motorcyclists.
"It's a danger to motorcycles because if they come along that bend and hit that, they're going to skid out. It's a danger to wildlife because they are going to come through and try to eat whatever's in the bag and get hit," said Jackie Harden, who lives in the neighborhood.
She is one of several people who joined together on social media to try and find whoever is responsible for the bags. She said the group is offering a $300 reward for information leading to an arrest.
"Lots of us are friends, just from growing up here. A lot of us know each other, so we all put our heads together. I'm surprised they haven't been caught yet, but it's coming," said Jeremiah Jordan, who also lives in the neighborhood.
Specifically what is inside the bags is still unknown. However, the color and texture of the liquid are consistent across most bags found on Pickens Gap Road — and so is the stench.