Flooding Event Leads To Two Arrests For Assault

Two men were arrested Thursday during the flooding event in Parrottsville after they allegedly pointed a gun at a firefighter. According to the Cocke County Sheriff’s office, firefighter Justin Gilbert was assisting with flood response on West Drive when two men approached his truck yelling at him for trying to turn in their yard. The two men were identified as 68 year old William Morgan and 73 year old Fred Trantham. According to the fireman, Trantham tried to open the door to his truck and remove him from it. Gilbert says that Trantham then head butted the side of the vehicle, of which deputies noticed evidence of.

Gilbert says that Morgan then pointed a firearm at him, at which time he called for help. Morgan and Trantham claimed that Gilbert got out of the truck and went to the back to retrieve what they thought was a weapon, which Gilbert denied. Both Trantham and Morgan became more argumentative and aggressive with deputies and both were then retained. A .38 caliber revolver was recovered by a sheriff”s deputy.

Trantham was charged with Assault while Morgan faces more serious charges of Reckless Aggravated Assault and Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon.