A Knoxville man was arrested Friday after he made threats against a former mayor of Rockwood and was found with several guns in his vehicle, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Saturday.
TBI special agents helped the Rockwood Police Department and the Ninth District Attorney General’s office investigate threats made by Thomas William Pierce, 59, against a former Rockwood mayor, a press release said.
Ninth District Attorney General Russell Johnson asked the TBI to help, the press release said.
Pierce is a former long-time Rockwood city employee, and he is set to go on trial in Roane County for theft of money from the City of Rockwood, the TBI said.
“During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that Pierce had made threats against the former mayor,” the press release said. “On Friday, a vehicle matching the description of Pierce’s was located in Rockwood, and officers conducted a traffic stop. The investigation revealed that Pierce was armed with several firearms in his vehicle.”
Friday night, TBI agents charged Pierce with one count of retaliation for past actions, and four counts of unlawful possession of a weapon. He was booked into the Roane County Jail on a $150,000 bond, the press release said.
The TBI said it is not identifying the former Rockwood mayor by name at this time.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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