Two of three charges were dismissed in General Sessions Court on Friday against a leader of a non-profit group that formerly was working in the city's violence reduction initiative.
Attorney Bill Speek said that after the third charge against Richard K. Bennett, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, gets to the Grand Jury, "there will be an immediate trial."
Bennett was arrested in early June on drug charges. He had been set to get a major city grant on the violence reduction initiative, but the city cut all ties with his group after the arrest.
Gerald Webb, another attorney on the case, said the 48-year-old Bennett got a bad rap.
He said Bennett was meeting with a woman to get information in connection with the initiative.
Attorney Webb said, "He was out giving of himself getting information on gang activity. His wife knew where he was."
He said he had a prescription for hydrocodone pills, and he said, "Richard does not do drugs."
Attorney Webb said the woman was left in the car, and he believes she put the very small amount of marijuana in his glove compartment while he was being interviewed by the officer.
The attorney said, "This was not a bad police officer. But there should have been a protocol in place. Richard was often with gang members with their drugs in plain sight."
Attorney Webb said Bennett "is still out there mentoring young kids. But now he's doing it mainly on his and his wife's resources."
In the incident, police said they were dispatched at 11:10 p.m. to be on the lookout for a silver or blue minivan driving erratically around East Lake Park.
An officer spotted the silver minivan pulled down into the grass in the southeast corner of the park. The passenger side sliding glass door was open and Bennett was inside with a female.
Police said Bennett's pants were unzipped.
When asked for his ID, he reached into his pocket and a small baggie fell out, an officer said. The officer said it appeared that he picked it up and put it in his pocket.
The officer relocated him for a patdown, but he did not find a baggie.
Police said Bennett had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Two open Budweiser beers and an open bottle of Patron liquor were in plain view in the vehicle.
A small amount of marijuana was found in the glove compartment. Both individuals denied any knowledge of the marijuana.
Police said Bennett had a pill container on his keys that contained seven hydro pills without a prescription with it.
Qwentina Holiday said she was meeting Bennett to ask for money.
Bennett said he was meeting the woman to get information on the violence reduction initiative.
City officials said after the arrest, "We will not tolerate criminal activity from anyone in our community – whether they are associated with the a city initiative or not. We are extremely disappointed in Mr. Bennett's actions and have halted his involvement with Chattanooga Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI).
"Chattanooga VRI has been successful since its start in March and we will continue to meet the day-to-day needs of those who have reached out for help through our existing partnerships with other agencies. The success of the Chattanooga Violence Reduction Initiative is dependent on our entire community putting an end to violence -- not one person or one agency."