Kodak Days Inn Standoff Suspects were Wanted by Knox County Sheriff

Police records show that two suspects involved in a police standoff at a Kodak Days Inn earlier this week had active arrest warrants out of Knox County and were suspects in several other thefts and burglaries.

An incident report from the Sevierville Police Department sheds new light on the circumstances surrounding a standoff on January 14, 2020 at the Days Inn, 3402 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Kodak, in which a suspect fired shots at police as they attempted an arrest.

According to the report, Knox County Sheriff’s deputies located two stolen vehicles in the hotel’s parking lot, one of which was involved in a police pursuit the previous day. Deputies believed suspects, identified as 31-year old Richard James Smith, of Knoxville, and Megan Marie Arnold, 22, of Church Hill, were staying at the hotel and confirmed room 205 was rented to Arnold.

Just before 1 p.m., ten deputies attempted to make contact and gain entry to the hotel room by announcing themselves, knocking and using a key for about three minutes, then resorted to using a ram to force the door. The door began to fold after several attempts with the ram and that is when one of the suspects fired approximately five gunshots toward deputies outside the door, which pulled back to safe and tactical positions then called for backup. Units from sheriff’s offices in Knox and Sevier County, along with the Sevierville Police Department, responded to assist.

Smith and Arnold had become barricaded in the hotel room and refused to come out. A Knox County deputy contacted them using the hotel room phone and negotiated the suspect’s surrender to police at about 1:43 p.m. without further incident. Both subjects were transported from the Kodak Days Inn to the Sevierville Police Department for questioning.

Officers collected a Smith & Wesson M&P pistol and a Sig Sauer pistol from the hotel room, along with money, identifications, bank/credit and gift cards, drug paraphernalia, and various other items. Sevierville police took the pistols and items related to the shooting as evidence. After processing the scene, items related to the Knox County cases were signed over to Knox County investigators.

The two stolen vehicles, a 2009 black Mercedes C-Class and a 2006 white Nissan Altima, were towed to the Sevierville Police Department for processing and will be released to the owners.

Arnold told investigators that she was aware that law enforcement was outside the hotel room and knew that Smith had firearms. She stated that she saw Smith grab a weapon and prepare to use it prior to going into the hotel room’s bathroom. After shots were fired at officers, Arnold admitted she was able to exit the hotel room but instead stayed in an attempt to help Smith. “She did in turn prolong the danger to herself, the other subject, and officers on scene by extending the barricade situation with an armed subject,” said the complaint against Arnold.

Arnold was charged with Criminal Responsibility for Facilitation of a Felony. She is held in the Sevier County Jail with bond set at $20,000.

The complaint against Smith stated, “… Smith did know that law enforcement officers were outside the door and Smith did obtain the firearm and prepare to fire and kill officers prior to their attempted entry into the room.”

Smith was charged with ten counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Firearm During a Felony. He is held in the Sevier County Jail in lieu of $1,000,000 bond.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.