Man wanted in South Carolina stopped in Knoxville; no device located
The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) said officers arrested a man from South Carolina Wednesday evening after he was linked to alleged hoax bomb threats that prompted an evacuation in Simpsonville, S.C.
According to KPD, the vehicle was stopped at about 7:30 p.m. in the Shoney’s parking lot on Rutledge Pike. Officers, working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, detained the driver, later identified as 57-year-old Aaron Wiles of Simpsonville, South Carolina.
Charges and county actions
Knox County booking records and statements from law enforcement say Wiles was charged locally with being a fugitive from justice and with simple possession. Greenville County, South Carolina, has charged him with breach of a high and aggravated nature and a bomb hoax related to an incident at the Simpsonville Municipal Complex.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Aaron Wiles |
| Age | 57 |
| Stop location | Shoney’s parking lot, Rutledge Pike, Knoxville |
| Local charges | Fugitive from justice; simple possession |
| Greenville charges | Breach of a high and aggravated nature; bomb hoax |
What prompted the response
Greenville County deputies said Wiles left a briefcase and a backpack in front of a magistrate’s office door at the Simpsonville Municipal Complex and was acting in a way that alarmed staff. That behavior led to an evacuation there. Deputies also reported discovering emails Wiles had sent earlier that referenced demands for unnamed judges in an unrelated matter.
Because of the nature of the allegations, KPD called its Hazardous Device Unit to examine the items found in Knoxville. The unit determined there were no suspicious or dangerous devices inside the belongings, according to the department.
- Officers coordinated with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to make the stop in Knoxville.
- The Hazardous Device Unit responded as a precaution; nothing hazardous was located.
- Wiles remained in Knox County custody Thursday while Greenville sought extradition.
The arrest underscores how reports originating in another state can quickly involve local law enforcement here in Knoxville, especially when potential threats to public safety are alleged. Residents in the area around Rutledge Pike may have noticed an increased police presence the evening of the stop as officers secured the scene and cleared the vehicle and belongings.
Authorities in Greenville are pursuing the underlying bomb-hoax investigation; Knox County officials are holding the suspect pending formal extradition proceedings back to South Carolina.
