SHARE Brandon A. Williams, 22, of Knoxville

By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE — A Knoxville man was arrested early Saturday for allegedly attempting to rob a Knoxville Police Department officer who was sitting in an unmarked police car.

Brandon A. Williams, 22, has been charged with attempted robbery, assault, evading arrest and resisting and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held on a $17,000 bond.

According to the arrest warrant, a KPD officer was sitting in the driver's seat of his city-issued unmarked police car in the parking lot of Kroger on Broadway when Williams approached from behind the vehicle and opened the passenger's door to enter.

The officer "confronted (Williams) about his actions, (Williams) paused and then stated 'I'm here for the money,' and attempted to further enter the (officer's) vehicle," according to the documents.

The officer then identified himself as a police officer, drew his weapon and gave (Williams) verbal commands to get down on the ground. Williams then attempted to flee but was caught after a short distance. He then "aggressively resisted arrest," the officer reported.

As Williams "resisted, he observed the (officers) identification hanging from his neck, acknowledged that he was in fact a police identification, then intentionally ripped it from the (officers) neck, breaking it (and then swore at him)," according to the warrant.

Williams, under audio and video, gave a full verbal confession, saying he intended to rob the officer of money, the warrant said.