Two Knoxville Police Department officers were conducting a traffic stop at approximately 1:16 p.m. Wednesday afternoon on Woodbine Avenue when an Acura MDX was seen going over 12 mph above the posted speed limit. Residents along Woodbine previously had asked police to help in slowing cars down in that neighborhood.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on the Acura near the intersection of Woodbine Avenue and Milligan Street. The male driver said he was a self-proclaimed Sovereign Hebrew Israelite Citizen and refused to comply with the officers' requests.

The vehicle did not have a legal license plate, only a Sovereign Hebrew Israelite sign.

While officers were attempting to place the suspect into custody, he began assaulting the officers. During the assault, the suspect bit off the end of one of the officer's thumbs. The second officer received a leg injury during the fight. The suspect was eventually detained.

Alexander Ray Johnson, 29, of Knoxville, has been detained in the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility on traffic charges. Police said he will be charged Wednesday evening with aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

Both officers were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. Johnson was not injured in the altercation.

A female passenger in Johnson's vehicle has been detained for questioning and is expected to be released.

The officers who were injured in the fight were identified as Trey Lane and Tim Edwards. KPD said Lane was in surgery as of 4:30 p.m. for his thumb injury. Edwards received treatment for his leg injury.