Stepson shot by retired Chattanooga police officer had been violent before

Robert Ingle

Kirk Eidson

About two weeks after retired Chattanooga assistant police chief Kirk Eidson shot his 18-year-old stepson in the leg at the family's North Chattanooga home, public records show the stepson has a severe mental illness and that police have responded to the home before.

One such response, in November 2013, prompted an internal affairs investigation into the way Eidson behaved after police officers responded to his home when his stepson, Robert Ingle, 18, was being violent.

In that situation, Ingle allegedly assaulted his mother, April Eidson. An anonymous person complained to Chattanooga police internal affairs that Eidson had used his position as assistant chief to influence the investigation and to attempt to keep Ingle, then 17, from being charged with a crime.

Eidson was still an active duty police officer at the time. He retired while the internal affairs investigation was ongoing, and the internal affairs case was closed with "no action taken" status in April 2014. Eidson had served almost 30 years with the department.

"With the retirement of two who were at the center of the investigation it was not possible to get a clear understanding of the process used to come to the conclusions that were made," then-Capt. Eric Tucker wrote in the file. "The lack of gaining any further information with respect to [the] complainant also leaves questions."

April Eidson strongly denied the allegation that her husband misused his authority. She said he was simply acting in his role as a father.

The November 2013 incident is similar to a recent confrontation on Sept. 14, when Kirk Eidson shot Ingle in the leg. In that incident, Eidson told police that Ingle attacked him as he was getting dressed in his home.

He said that Ingle burst into the room and asked Eidson for keys to Eidson's truck. Eidson told police he backed up and pulled his handgun out of his pocket. He said he held the weapon at his side and told his stepson to leave, according to the affidavit.

Eidson told police that Ingle then rushed him and, when the two collided, the gun fired and struck Ingle in the right leg above the knee.

Ingle was arrested and charged with domestic assault and vandalism. Eidson was not charged in the shooting.

Ingle is out of custody, and his next court appearance is set for Oct. 20 in Hamilton County General Sessions Court.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas.