Knoxville police discuss downtown safety after two stabbings in Krutch Park

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Knoxville Police responded to two separate stabbings in Krutch Park within three days.

On Saturday, a man was hospitalized after a stabbing, police said. On Monday, another stabbing occurred in Krutch Park.

Previous reporting: Police investigate stabbing in Krutch Park

Two people were arrested and Knoxville police said the suspect and victim knew each other in each case.

Knoxville police reiterated that downtown was safe and numbers were trending in the right direction.

“We are seeing a positive trend in crime, which is moving towards a decline overall, as we have seen in the numbers across the city. But that does not mean that there will no longer be crime in the downtown area,” said Scott Erland of the Knoxville Police Department.

WVLT asked the KPD for a crime analysis on crimes in Krutch Park and the surrounding area.

Previous reporting: Report: Knoxville police charge man after second stabbing in downtown

The KPD responded with crimes in 2022, 2023 and 2024 from January 1 to June 2.

According to police, crime peaked at 540 in 2022, falling to 421 a year later and 413 this year alone.

The surrounding shops also support the KPD’s security message.

“Honestly, I have never felt unsafe in this area,” said Annette Morejon, owner of the Spice and Tea Exchange.

Morejon said the feeling of security may come from the store being open during peak hours, but even when she is forced to stay late, she never feels uncomfortable.

“Even in the evenings you find a few people who may have had a little too much to drink. Of course it’s night and there are bars and stuff, but like I said, when I feel like the police need to be present, they’re there,” Morejon said.

Morejon and another company employee who was not authorized to speak on camera both told WVLT News that police were just a phone call away.

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