Cop in Knoxville fired after photos show brutal choking of UT student

Monday, April 28, 2014

The Knox County Sheriff's Office has fired a deputy who was photographed allegedly choking a University of Tennessee student in Fort Sanders on Saturday night.

A copy of a termination notice on KCSO's website said Frank Phillips, 47, has been found "unsuitable for continued employment with the Sheriff's Office."

"After an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards, I believe excessive force was used in this incident," Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones said in a statement. "Therefore, Officer Phillips' employment with the Knox County Sheriff's Office is terminated immediately. The investigation will now be turned over to the Knox County Attorney General's Office to determine any further action."

Read more from our news partner at KnoxNews.com.