The Tennessee Highway Patrol is standing behind a trooper who was sued by a woman after he stopped her two times within three hours and conducted a pat down of her that she said went overboard.
Col. Tracy Trott said, “After careful consideration and review, the Tennessee Highway Patrol Command Staff has advised me that Trooper Isaiah Lloyd conducted this traffic stop in a professional manner in an effort to protect the motoring public.
"The Command Staff, including females Major Cheryl Sanders and Lt.
Stacey Heatherly, reviewed the traffic stop video cautiously and carefully several times to determine if Trooper Lloyd had acted inappropriately with Ms. Wilson. Along with the Command Staff, I concurred after thorough review of the video that Trooper Lloyd did not act inappropriately with Ms. Wilson. It appears that Trooper Lloyd conducted a search for contraband instead of a pat down for weapons. The technique that Trooper Lloyd used during the traffic stop will be addressed internally.
"This will serve as my final statement regarding this matter pending the civil suit process. I believe the civil suit to be without merit.
"Effective immediately Trooper Lloyd will return to active enforcement duty.”
Patricia Wilson of Campbell County said she was wearing tight-fitting shorts and a close-fitting shirt at the time of the Aug. 16 stops on I-75. She said the trooper asked her to get out of her vehicle, then had her bend over the car. She said he then put his hands down her shorts.
She said during a second stop he said, "We need to stop meeting like this."