On February 23, 2026, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Crossville Police Department officers were dispatched to Buchanan Street regarding a report of a male walking while swinging a baseball bat as if searching for someone. The suspect was described as wearing camo pants and a jacket. Upon arrival, Officer Brittany Price observed 51-year-old Patrick Jason Whittenburg, a nonresident from Sparta, TN, walking with a bat resting on his shoulder while looking around. Officer Price recognized him from prior encounters.

During contact, Whittenburg stated he was searching for a female he had met online who might live on Buchanan Street. When questioned about the bat, he admitted he intended to use it to kill someone. He eventually complied and dropped the bat after repeated requests. Whittenburg exhibited signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes and difficulty standing still. He admitted to consuming amphetamine (which he referred to as his usual substance) about three hours earlier.

He was detained, and upon questioning, he acknowledged possessing a pipe and amphetamine in his pocket, then consented to a search. Sergeant Mangas located a glass pipe with narcotic residue and a folded piece of sandpaper containing approximately 1.22 grams of a white crystalline substance in his front right pants pocket. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

Whittenburg was arrested on-view at 12:13 p.m. by Officer Price.

He was charged with public intoxication and simple possession of a controlled substance. The glass pipe was seized as drug equipment, and the methamphetamine (approximately 1.22 grams) was seized as narcotics.

The incident occurred in a highway/road/alley location, with no weapons ultimately used beyond the initial bat (noted as a blunt object in some classifications), no bias or gang involvement, and no injuries reported.

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.