An alleged rape victim has sued the city of Chattanooga and Detective Karl Fields, saying while investigating her case he pursued a sexual relationship with her.
Due to allegations in the case, District Attorney Neal Pinkston turned the case over to the TBI for possible criminal charges against Fields, who is no longer working as a detective.
The Circuit Court complaint says Fields was joking at her preliminary hearing about a video made by the alleged rapist being "YouTube material."
She said Fields told her he was physically attracted to her. He said the spark was gone in his marriage and he was often unfaithful to his wife.
The suit says on June 25 that Fields took the woman to the El Meson Restaurant in Hixson. She said Fields stated he liked to go there because he said his friend Tony operated a gambling and strip club that operated in the restaurant after hours. She said Fields stated that he was the eyes and ears for Tony on the operation. As a result, he said Tony let him eat and drink there for free.
She said in the bathroom of the restaurant that Fields pushed her against a wall and began kissing her. She said she fled the room.
The woman said Fields took her home and began fondling her inside her house. She said he was drunk and he agreed to leave.
The suit says Fields began sending the woman lewd text messages trying to get her to have a sexual relationship with him.
She said Fields told her he had sexual affairs with other women he was investigating on rape cases.
The woman said Fields began "stalking" her and called her 73 times in one night.
She said she is no longer able to work because she has nightmares and anxiety attacks.
The suit says Fields had prior issues on cases he was handling, and the department should have reined him in.