Federal Judge Curtis Collier has granted a motion for summary judgment and dismissed former Deputy Dallas Longwith’s case against Bradley County, the Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Jim Ruth.
In December 2011, an Internal Affairs investigation into former Deputy Longwith’s behavior was launched after the Sheriff’s Office received complaints from Mr. Longwith’s neighbors about him "engaging in offensive conduct."
Different neighbors filed complaints in August and December 2011 expressing concern over Mr. Longwith "wearing nothing but boxer shorts on a regular basis while working in his front yard. Some of the neighbors advised detectives their children were concerned with Mr. Longwith’s conduct."
Mr. Longwith was fired from the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 4, 2012, for engaging in behavior unbecoming a deputy sheriff and failure to comply with a direct order of a superior, in violation of Sheriff’s Office policies.
Mr. Longwith had contended he was terminated for political reasons.
In the judge’s ruling, he stated the plaintiff (Mr. Longwith) had put forth no evidence sufficient to overcome the summary judgment because he had not demonstrated that Sheriff Ruth knew about – never mind fired him because of – plaintiff’s activities in support of someone else’s potential 2014 bid for sheriff.
The court granted a summary judgment and directed the clerk of the court to close the case.