Police Chief Sought FBI & Criminal Charges against Outlaw Cops. From [HERE] and [HERE] Surveillance video released Wednesday afternoon shows two white Chattanooga police officers savagely beating a Black federal inmate last summer at the Salvation Army on McCallie Avenue.
The lobby floor of the Salvation Army — where former federal inmates are housed — was mostly covered in blood. "That floor was covered," said Robin Flores, who filed a $50 million lawsuit on behalf of a 37-year-old Chattanooga man beaten by police. "It was like someone took a ketchup bottle and shook it around and sprayed it. "It makes Rodney King look tame. It's bad."[MORE]
The lawsuit filed in Hamilton County Circuit Court names two former Chattanooga police officers, three current police officers, 11 unidentified police officers, the city and Erlanger Health Systems. Flores released the video Wednesday night after obtaining the footage through discovery after he filed a motion for post-conviction relief. The media has only released the above photo.
Officers had responded to a disorder at the facility where Tatum was reportedly kicking a door of the office and had a knife. Flores said former Officers Adam Cooley and Sean Emmer (in photo) along with other officers on the scene and hospital staff did nothing to help Tatum once he was injured and in custody.
As a result of the incident, Cooley and Emmer were fired. James Smith, one of the first responding officers, was not disciplined. Federal authorities have opened an investigation into Emmer and Cooley's actions. Tatum remains incarcerated at Silverdale Correctional Facility. He uses a cane to walk, Flores said.
Police said at the time Tatum kept fighting and claimed he had a knife. They said they used Mace and a stun gun on Tatum, but neither seemed to affect him. They continued to strike Tatum until he stopped fighting, they said in earlier newspaper stories.
However, the video shows Tatum on the floor much of the time, pleading with officers to stop striking him. Tatum suffered six fractures to his right leg and two fractures to his left leg, including a compound fracture.
“The only thing I can tell you is that the video speaks for itself,” said Chattanooga attorney Robin Flores.
Tatum was convicted of several assault charges stemming from the disorder.
The lawsuit names two former Chattanooga police officers, three current police officers, 11 unidentified police officers, the city and Erlanger Health Systems.
After reviewing the case file and video footage of the incident, Chief Bobby Dodd initiated an Internal Affairs investigation regarding these allegations. He also contacted the local Federal Bureau of Investigations Office to review the case for possible civil rights violations and/or criminal charges on the officers.
As a result of the incident, Officers Adam Cooley and Sean Emmer were fired. James Smith, one of the first responding officers, was not disciplined. The Chattanooga Police Chief said Wednesday night he fired the officers and pushed for criminal prosecution.
“I met with the district attorney to seek prosecution. The determination was made to present it to the grand jury. I also contacted the FBI to look into it for possible civil rights investigation,” Dodd said.
Do Not Expect Justice. Expect White Supremacy.
The grand jury declined to indict the officers. As of Wednesday night, no federal charges were filed against the officers.
Tatum remains incarcerated at Silverdale Correctional Facility.