Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen named Knoxville Police Department officers Brian Bell and Preston Whillock the October Officers of the Month. Both officers have been with the department since June 2006. 

Chief Owen said that on October 11, 2010, Officers Bell and Whillock flexed their hours in order to continue their search for a dangerous felon wanted on an attempted rape and an attempted aggravated rape. The suspect had been eluding officers for more than a week despite repeated attempts to track the suspect down.

Chief Owen said, "Both officers worked a plain clothes detail and spent hours in homeless camps as well as checking previous residences and markets where the suspect frequently purchased beer. After several hours of searching, the suspect was located in a North Central Street market where he was apprehended without incident."

The knife believed to have been used in the attempted aggravated rape was also located on the suspect.

Chief Owen said, "Due to the special effort and diligence by these officers, a dangerous felon who had been preying on homeless women was apprehended and removed from our streets."

Mayor Haslam said, "We appreciate the extra effort these officers put forth on their day off to track down and remove this wanted suspect. Thanks for a job well done."
SUSPECT:

William Snodgrass
DOB: 4-27-62
Homeless
Charges:
Attempted Rape
Attempted Aggravated Rape