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Traffic Collision Investigation Leads to DUI Arrest

SUBJECT: Traffic Collision Investigation Leads to DUI Arrest

DATE: December 30th, 2025

CASE: #25-017753

GENERAL NARRATIVE

 

On Wednesday, December 24th, 2025, at approximately 23:00 hours, officers with the Kingsport Police Department responded to a single vehicle collision at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Lake Street. Upon arrival, they located Sara Buchanan at a nearby address and determined she had been operating the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant. Sara was arrested for Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Driving Under the Influence, Resisting Arrest, and Violation of Implied Consent. She was then transported to the Kingsport City Jail. This is an ongoing investigation, and no other information will be released at this time.

 

SUSPECT INFORMATION

 

Name: Sara Buchanan

Age: 50

Gender/Race: Female/White

Hair/Eyes: Brown/Hazel

Charges: Driving Under the Influence (One Count), Leaving the Scene of an Accident (One Count), Violation of Implied Consent (One Count), Resisting Arrest (One Count)

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

UPDATE: Missing Adult Located

SUBJECT: Kingsport Police Searching for Missing Adult (UPDATE: FOUND SAFE)

DATE: December 28th, 2025

CASE: #25-017469

GENERAL NARRATIVE

 

UPDATE:

 

Rebecca Lowe was found safe. The Kingsport Police Department extends its thanks to the public for their assistance in locating her.

 

AS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED:

 

The Kingsport Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing adult. Rebecca Lowe is a forty-nine (49) year-old white female, approximately 5’04”, 140lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Rebecca last spoke with family on Friday, September 19th, 2025. Rebecca was last seen around Cherokee Village Drive in Kingsport on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025. Rebecca has been entered into NCIC as a missing adult. If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, we ask that they contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or our Criminal Investigation Division at (423) 229-9429 immediately.

 

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

 

Name: Rebecca Lowe

Age: 49

Gender/Race: Female/White

Height/Weight: 5’04″/140lbs

Hair/Eyes: Brown/Brown

Residency: Kingsport

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

Kingsport Police Searching for Missing Adult

SUBJECT: Kingsport Police Searching for Missing Adult

DATE: December 26th, 2025

CASE: #25-017469

GENERAL NARRATIVE

 

The Kingsport Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing adult. Rebecca Lowe is a forty-nine (49) year-old white female, approximately 5’04”, 140lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Rebecca last spoke with family on Friday, September 19th, 2025. Rebecca was last seen around Cherokee Village Drive in Kingsport on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025. Rebecca has been entered into NCIC as a missing adult. If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, we ask that they contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or our Criminal Investigation Division at (423) 229-9429 immediately.

 

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

 

Name: Rebecca Lowe

Age: 49

Gender/Race: Female/White

Height/Weight: 5’04″/140lbs

Hair/Eyes: Brown/Brown

Residency: Kingsport

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

KPD Investigating Child Death (UPDATE: INDICTMENT RETURNED)

SUBJECT: KPD Investigating Child Death (UPDATE: INDICTMENT RETURNED)

DATE: December 15th, 2025

CASE #: 24-016579

GENERAL NARRATIVE

UPDATE: After a thorough investigation, this case was presented to the Sullivan County Grand Jury. Twenty-year-old (20) Easton Vance of Morristown, Tennessee, was indicted with three (3) counts of 1st Degree Murder, one (1) count of Aggravated Child Neglect, one (1) count of Aggravated Child Abuse, one (1) count of Aggravated Rape of a Child, and one (1) count of Aggravated Criminal Trespass. Easton Vance is currently incarcerated in the Sullivan County Jail.

AS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED: On October 21st, 2024, at approximately 4:22 pm, Kingsport Police Officers responded to the 3800 block of Eastline Drive. When officers arrived, they found the Kingsport Fire Department and Sullivan County E.M.S. attempting to revive a fourteen-month-old male who was unresponsive. The child was rushed to Indian Path Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S. The child was later pronounced dead.

The child’s body was taken to Williams L. Jenkins Forensic Center for an autopsy to help determine the cause and manner of death. This is an active investigation, and no additional information can be released at this time.

SUSPECT INFORMATION

Name Easton Vance

Age 20

Gender/Race Male/White

Hair/Eyes Black/Blue

Residency Morristown, TN

Charges x3 Counts of 1st Degree Murder, x1 Counts of Aggravated Child Abuse, x1 Count of Aggravated Child Neglect, x1 Count of Aggravated Rape of a Child, x1 Count of Aggravated Criminal Trespass.

Easton Vance new release update graphic

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

Kingsport Police Respond to Animal Abuse

SUBJECT: Kingsport Police Respond to Animal Abuse

DATE: December 10th, 2025

CASE: #25-016732

GENERAL NARRATIVE

 

On Monday, December 1st, 2025, at approximately 8:30 P.M., Patrol Officers with the Kingsport Police Department responded to an address in the 400 block of Rose Street about dogs being neglected. Upon arrival, Patrol Officers located twenty-two (22) dogs in a residence. The dogs were being kept in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. PetWorks was contacted and responded to the address to remove the dogs from the residence. This was done over several days due to the number of dogs. The owner of the dogs was identified as forty-three (43)- year-old Stephon States. Mr. States was charged with one (1) count of Resisting Arrest and twenty-two (22) counts of Animal Cruelty. Mr. States was then transported to the Kingsport City Jail.

 

SUSPECT INFORMATION

 

Name: Stephon States

Age: 43

Gender/Race: Male/Black

Hair/Eyes: Black/Brown

Residency: Rose Street, Kingsport

Charges: x1 count of Resisting Arrest and x22 counts of Animal Cruelty

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

KPD Searching for Runaway Juveniles (UPDATE: FOUND SAFE)

SUBJECT:   KPD Searching for Runaway Juveniles (UPDATE: FOUND SAFE)

DATE:  November 24th, 2025 

CASE #: 25-016305

GENERAL NARRATIVE

UPDATE:

 

Katelyn Wall and Joshua Burton are safe and have both been located. The Kingsport Police Department asks the public to continue helping us in future cases. Thank you for your assistance in locating the two juveniles.

 

AS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED:

 

The Kingsport Police Department is searching for 17-year-old Katelyn Wall and 15-year-old Joshua Burton. Katelyn and Joshua are believed to have left voluntarily from an address on Center Street. Katelyn is a white female last seen wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt, blue sweatpants, and white tennis shoes. Joshua is a white male last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black and white shoes. Katelyn and Joshua were last seen in the area of SR 36 (Kingsport Highway) and SR 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway) in Gray, TN, on Friday, November 21st, 2025. Katelyn and Joshua have both been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as runaway Juveniles.

 

Anyone with information on either individual’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 229-9429.

 

Alternatively, if an individual who can provide information to this or any case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

 

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

Name Katelyn Wall

Age 17

Gender/Race Female/White

Hair/Eyes Brown/Brown

Residency Kingsport, TN

Possible Clothing Pink hooded sweatshirt, blue sweatpants, white tennis shoes

Last Known Location Near SR 36 (Kingsport Highway) and SR 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway), Gray, TN

 

Name Joshua Burton

Age 15

Gender/Race Male/White

Hair/Eyes Brown/Blue

Residency Kingsport, TN

Possible Clothing Gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black and white shoes

Last Known Location Near SR 36 (Kingsport Highway) and SR 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway), Gray, TN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

KPD Searching for Runaway Juveniles

SUBJECT:  KPD Searching for Runaway Juveniles

DATE:  November 22nd, 2025 

CASE #: 25-016305

GENERAL NARRATIVE

The Kingsport Police Department is searching for 17-year-old Katelyn Wall and 15-year-old Joshua Burton. Katelyn and Joshua are believed to have left voluntarily from an address on Center Street. Katelyn is a white female last seen wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt, blue sweatpants, and white tennis shoes. Joshua is a white male last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black and white shoes. Katelyn and Joshua were last seen in the area of SR 36 (Kingsport Highway) and SR 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway) in Gray, TN, on Friday, November 21st, 2025. Katelyn and Joshua have both been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as runaway Juveniles.

 

Anyone with information on either individual’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 229-9429.

 

Alternatively, if an individual who can provide information to this or any case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

 

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

Name Katelyn Wall

Age 17

Gender/Race Female/White

Hair/Eyes Brown/Brown

Residency Kingsport, TN

Possible Clothing Pink hooded sweatshirt, blue sweatpants, white tennis shoes

Last Known Location Near SR 36 (Kingsport Highway) and SR 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway), Gray, TN

 

Name Joshua Burton

Age 15

Gender/Race Male/White

Hair/Eyes Brown/Blue

Residency Kingsport, TN

Possible Clothing Gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black and white shoes

Last Known Location Near SR 36 (Kingsport Highway) and SR 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway), Gray, TN

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

 

 

KPD Arrests Man for Reckless Burning

SUBJECT:  Kingsport Police Department Arrests Man for Reckless Burning

DATE:  November 17th, 2025 

CASE #: 25-016064

GENERAL NARRATIVE

On Monday, November 17, 2025, Kingsport Police Department officers and Kingsport Fire Department firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the 900 Block of Terry Drive, Kingsport, TN. During the investigation officers determined that Dave L. Hensley, 20, of Thorn Hill, TN, had intentionally initiated an unauthorized open-air fire.

 

Mr. Hensley was subsequently arrested and charged with one (1) count of Reckless Burning.

 

The Kingsport Police Department and Kingsport Fire Department remind all citizens that open burning is strictly regulated and requires adherence to specific permitting and safety guidelines.

 

Dave L. Hensley was booked into the Kingsport City Jail

 

SUSPECT INFORMATION

Name Dave Hensley

Age 20

Gender/Race Male/White

Hair/Eyes Brown/Green

Residency Thorn Hill, TN

Charges x1 count of Reckless Burning

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

KPD Searching for Runaway Juvenile

SUBJECT:  KPD Searching for Runaway Juvenile

DATE:  November 12th, 2025 

CASE #: 25-015681

GENERAL NARRATIVE

The Kingsport Police Department is searching for 16-year-old, Kyla Boyles. Kyla is believed to have left voluntarily from an address on Friendship Circle. Kyla is a black female last seen wearing a blonde wig, dark colored zip up, white shorts, and white shoes. Kyla has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a runaway Juvenile.

 

Anyone with information on Kyla’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 229-9429.

 

Alternatively, if an individual who can provide information to this or any case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

 

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

Name Kyla Boyles

Age 16

Gender/Race Female/Black

Hair/Eyes Brown/Brown

Residency Kingsport, TN

Possible Clothing Dark colored zip up, white shorts, and white shoes

Other Details Blonde wig, nose piercings

Last Known Location Friendship Circle, Kingsport, TN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

 

KPD Responds to School Lockdown

SUBJECT: Kingsport Police Respond to School Lockdown

DATE: November 12th, 2025

CASE: #25-015795

GENERAL NARRATIVE

 

On Monday, November 10th, 2025, at approximately 12:30 hours, Dobyns-Bennett High School (DBHS) was placed on lockdown due to concerns that an adult male was attempting to force entry through the school’s front doors. School Resource Officers at DBHS requested additional backup units, and multiple officers began responding. The male did not gain access to the school but was in the parking lot yelling and cursing. The male was given several verbal commands to stop, but he refused to comply. The male was arrested, identified as eighteen-year-old Juelz Shepard, and charged with one (1) count of Disorderly Conduct. Mr. Shepard was then transported to the Kingsport City Jail.

There were no firearms recovered, and this was not an active shooter situation.

 

SUSPECT INFORMATION

 

Name: Juelz Shepard

Age: 18

Gender/Race: Male/Black

Hair/Eyes: Brown/Brown

Residency: Memorial Court, Kingsport

Charges: Disorderly Conduct (One count)

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Corporal Brandon Arnold

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749

BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov

 

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee