The recent revelation of the disturbing video of the treatment of Reginald Arrington during his arrest makes it apparent that a thorough and objective investigation is immediately necessary to determine what happened, why it happened and whether the actions of the deputies warrant any disciplinary action.
Sheriff Jim Hammond apparently chose to sit on the information and take no action.
When the matter was brought to the attention of the District Attorney by the Public Defender representing Arrington, the DA chose to initiate an investigation by an outside agency to determine what next steps need to be taken.
In the call for an independent and transparent investigation, the DA is right.
For the Sheriff, to object to such an investigation is wrong.
The behavior of the deputies in this instance requires an objective and transparent review of the facts and circumstances of the arrest of Reginald Arrington. Anything less invites the suspicion of a cover up and a concealment of the facts.
The only way to instill public confidence in the outcome of an investigation is to let an outside agency make an unbiased determination of whether the deputies acted properly or not.
If Sheriff Hammond is unwilling to support such an open and independent investigation and review, it is time to get a new Sheriff.
Rodney Strong
Chair, Hamilton County Democratic Party
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If it's true the excuse to stop Mr. Arrington was Tennessee's PIR law, after he asked a few female joggers for direction out of the area, weren't those women breaking the same law used to stop him too?
I'm just wondering if Chattanooga has regressed that much back to some bygone era where a black man could be accused of eyeball rape for simply looking in the direction of a white woman or the ropes were brought out for cordially speaking to one in greeting.
While everyone was asleep, the law must have been changed to the BPIR law (Black Person In Roadway law).
Nothing he may have said during the stop, allegedly giving a false name, really matters if the excuse for the stop was based on a black man walking in the roadway or asking for directions. Gosh! If I called the police every time someone of a different race asked me a question, or someone made me feel uncomfortable. And I've had quite a number of valid reasons over the years, even stalkings by police. Not that they'd have responded anyway.
Brenda Washington