An 18-year-old Knoxville man was arrested Saturday around 4:30 p.m. after officers say he and a 17-year-old companion were found with three loaded firearms, including what police described as a mini Draco. Knoxville Police Department Community Engagement Response Team officers took La’Ron Revels into custody on Harriet Tubman Street, then located the pair inside a nearby apartment. Revels was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, simple possession, and evading arrest, and was already wanted on an outstanding warrant for theft of a firearm.
Police account and charges
According to a post from the Knoxville Police Department, officers first saw Revels walking on Harriet Tubman Street with another male. A short time later, they found both individuals in an apartment and took them into custody without incident. The post states that officers recovered three loaded firearms, including a mini Draco, and confirms that Revels was wanted on a warrant for theft of a firearm in addition to the new charges. The other male was identified as a 17-year-old runaway, and police did not list any charges for him in the update.
Community Engagement Response Team role
Police say the arrest happened during routine work by the Community Engagement Response Team, a Knoxville Police Department unit that is deployed on street-level problems and targeted operations. A recent news release from the Knoxville Police Department shows CER officers teaming up with Organized Crime and Special Operations personnel on broader investigations, with that coordination often leading to arrests. The department has not yet shared additional details about how officers tracked down the apartment where Revels and the teenager were found.
Weapons seized
In its social media update, the department said officers located three loaded firearms at the scene, one described as a mini Draco. Police did not release serial numbers or say whether the weapons are connected to any other cases beyond the existing warrant for theft of a firearm. Officers presented the seizure as part of an ongoing push to keep illegal guns off Knoxville streets.
Legal context
Because one person involved is 17, Tennessee juvenile procedures would typically control how that youth is processed and where they may be held. State rules limit placing juveniles in adult jails and set timelines for detention hearings. Tennessee law, as compiled on FindLaw, restricts the detention of youth to licensed facilities and lists conditions for secure custody. The state courts’ juvenile FAQs describe how detention hearings and release decisions generally work, and families looking for specifics on juvenile processing can consult guidance from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts.
Local context
Knoxville has seen a series of weapon-related arrests in recent years, including cases that involve juveniles and multiple firearms, according to local coverage. A 2025 article from WVLT detailed officers finding loaded handguns during a traffic stop that led to the arrests of both juveniles and adults. Officials have said that quick recognition of suspect descriptions and the use of specialized units such as CER help keep guns from staying on the street…