MAN ASSAULTS AND THREATENS OFFICER DURING ARREST IN CROSSVILLE
On October 24, 2025, Crossville Police Department officers responded to On The Way Mart on Lantana Road after reports of William Gillespie brandishing a knife and threatening someone inside, with a request to ban him from the store. Officers located Gillespie, who lives across the street on Lantana Road, wearing an orange jacket.
Upon contact in his driveway, Gillespie placed his hand on a knife in his pocket, then removed and brandished it despite repeated commands to drop it, eventually placing it on a vehicle while protesting not to be yelled at and stating he would not return to jail. He became defiant, telling the officer “**** you, you’re going to have to ****** kill me,” and later “I’m gonna kick your ****” while resisting arrest.
After pushing the officer, Gillespie continued aggressive behavior, prompting the deployment of a taser—first ineffectively, then successfully with a second cartridge. Once on the ground, he complied briefly but resisted again until additional officers arrived.
Gillespie made threats, including that he would kill the officer if he had a gun and later, while en route to the Cumberland County Justice Center, threatened to harm the officer and his family outside of work.
He was booked and charged with Aggravated Assault on a First Responder and Resisting Stop, Halt, Frisk, or Arrest.
