Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown and Police Chief David Rausch named Investigator Patty Tipton the May Officer of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Investigator Tipton has been with KPD since January 1996.

Chief Rausch said that on May 15, 2011, at approximately 4:00 p.m. officers responded to a robbery in progress call at the Family Dollar located at 2604 E. Magnolia Avenue. Officer John Stevens was in the area when the call came out and was on the scene almost immediately. As Officer Stevens entered the store front he witnessed the suspect holding the victim at gunpoint. The suspect dropped his gun and fled out the back of the store to his parked vehicle. The suspect then fled westbound in the alley until he crashed his vehicle behind the Gas House located at 2400 Magnolia Avenue. After crashing his vehicle the suspect fled the scene on foot.

Chief Rausch said, "Investigator Tipton was in the area canvassing the neighborhood while working on a homicide investigation. When the robbery call came out, Investigator Tipton immediately responded to the area where the suspect was last seen. Investigator Tipton observed the suspect running while removing his hoodie. Tipton pursued the suspect initially in her vehicle, then on foot, calling out the pursuit to other officers that were responding to the scene. Investigator Tipton was finally able to detain the suspect and hold him until back up could secure him."

"Investigator Tipton had been working non-stop since 3:00 a.m. on a homicide investigation. If not for her quick response, the suspect most likely would have gotten away," Chief Rausch concluded.

Suspect:

Kendrick Burrows
DOB: 7-9-92
Knoxville address

Charges:

Aggravated Robbery
Aggravated Assault
Felony Fleeing
Reckless Endangerment
Leaving the Scene of an Accident