During Rod Run, Pigeon Forge police handled more than 1,000 reports and made 36 arrests.

WVLT – PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. During this year’s spring Rod Run event, the Pigeon Forge Police agency responded to over 1,000 calls for service and made 36 arrests, as stated by the agency.

From Thursday to Sunday, 1,151 calls were handled by PFPD officers, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office. According to PFPD, those 36 arrests led to 48 charges as well.

Pigeon Forge police chief Richie Catlett expressed his concerns, saying, “It’s concerning me because of public safety and the number of people we have here versus the amount of space we have.”

Officers also reported 43 auto accidents, 283 warnings, and 623 citations.

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Read More: Father laments son’s passing following collision near Pigeon Forge’s Rod Run auto festival, saying, “He’s not coming back.”

WATE: PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. A man who was attending the Rod Run car festival in Pigeon Forge on Friday passed away, turning what was meant to be a family holiday into a tragic event.

“Every year, we travel here for the Rod Run. We visit this place three times a year, spending a week here each time. Jeremy Hanes, the boy’s father, stated, “This was my son’s first time actually attending it with me.”

Jeremy Hanes and his son Kyle, 31, grew close because of their shared passion for automobiles.

Jeremy remarked, “He was my ace, my number one, he was like me made over. We own a car lot in Indiana. He loved cars.”

On Thursday, April 18, Jeremy and his kid were reportedly riding scooters when they were requested to relocate from the sidewalk onto the road by law authorities. They later parted ways.

“I found out on my own, walking down the street and seeing the scooter there and his hat lying on the ground. It was brought to my attention five minutes after my son left me that night that this happened — that he was in an accident,” Jeremy said.
“He was extremely happy and couldn’t wait to come to this Rod Run with me,” Jeremy remarked. “And now it’s finished.”

Jeremy demands an explanation now.

“Why has nobody reached out to me to let me know anything, why has nobody said anything to me? No one can answer me,” he stated. “My son is not coming back; he is gone.”

In addition, he wants justice for his son.

“Someone is going to pay for this; somebody is at fault here.”

Knowing that his son was over a year sober when he passed away, according to Jeremy, is one thing that gives him comfort.