KNIFE-WIELDING ROOMMATE ARRESTED AFTER HOTEL ALTERCATION IN CROSSVILLE
According to a report by the Crossville Police Department, on March 7, 2026, officers responded to a reported argument between roommates at the Economy Inn. According to the incident report, a man stated that he and his coworker, Daniel Ceballos, got into a dispute over a Lowe’s card.
During the confrontation, Ceballos exited the backseat of their vehicle, pulled a knife from his pocket, accidentally dropped it, retrieved it, opened the blade, and stepped toward the complainant, who feared for his safety. He then retrieved a baseball bat from the truck and struck Ceballos in the left arm in self-defense. Ceballos reportedly put the knife away after being hit, ending the altercation. The complainant also claimed Ceballos had threatened to have a friend from Murfreesboro kill him.
Motel surveillance video corroborated key details: it showed the two arguing, Ceballos exiting the vehicle, pulling and opening the knife while advancing, and the complainant responding by arming himself with the bat and striking Ceballos once.
Due to a language barrier, officers used Google Translate to communicate with Ceballos and read him his Miranda rights, after which he admitted pulling the knife but claimed he did nothing further with it. Officers determined Ceballos to be the primary aggressor and placed him under arrest.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
