This episode, and the next one, Don't Look Back: Part 2 (1988), originally aired as a TV film called "In the Heat of the Night: The Case of the Voodoo Murders". The producers (and syndicators) of the series later edited the film into episodes of the show.
Where they shot this episode in Covington Georgia which was used for Hazzard Country for the first 5 episodes of The Dukes Of Hazzard (1979-1985)
This is the first and only time that Lonnie is serving as a dispatcher and dispatches Detective Tibbs. Plus, this is first time you hear Detective Tibbs Radio call sign of "Sparta 2".
Over the Radio it can be heard from Officer Parker Williams over the Radio he briefly uses Chief Gillespie Call Sign is "Sparta 1". Along with the fact Parker also used his call sign at the Dispatcher's Desk known as "Sparta Central". This is first time that call signs where used and heard over the radio.
Howard Rollins (Virgil) and guest star Thomas Ian Griffith both got early starts on TV'S Another World.