Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen named Officer Stan Cash and Officer Eric Razote the October Officers of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Officer Cash has been with the department since October 2001. Officer Razote has been with KPD since January 2007.
On October 12, 2008, at 7:15 p.m., the E-911 center received a frantic call from a female reporting the abduction of her one-year old daughter. The mother indicated her boyfriend had forced his way into her apartment and assaulted her before fleeing with the child. Officers quickly responded to the scene and gathered information concerning the incident. A command post was established along with the activation of the KPD Search and Recovery Team (SAR). Officers also issued a citywide bolo on the suspect and the suspect's vehicle.
Within a few minutes of hearing the bolo, Officer Stan Cash observed the vehicle on Northshore Drive. Officer Cash conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the suspect and the missing child were not in the vehicle. An interview of the vehicle's occupant revealed the suspect and the child were at the Ridgebrook Apartment Complex.
Officer Eric Razote responded to the apartments and took up an observation position at the complex. Officer Razote observed a male matching the description of the suspect. He moved in quickly and was able to take the suspect into custody without incident. The abducted child was then recovered in an apartment and was returned to her mother at the command post.
Chief Owen said, "This was a model case concerning the successful recovery of an abducted child. This call could have ended in a terrible tragedy, but due to the vigilance of all the officers involved, we were able to take the suspect into custody and return the child to her mother within 45 minutes of receiving the 911 call."
The suspect, Robert Stodghill (DOB 3-25-81), was charged with domestic assault. Additional charges are pending the conclusion of the investigation by investigators.
Mayor Haslam said, "The entire Knoxville community is appreciative of the quick response of the officers. We commend them on a job well done."