'Police sergeant fired after probe' and more news from the Chattanooga region

Police sergeant fired after probe

RINGGOLD, Ga. - Ringgold Police Department Sgt. Tom Evans was fired Friday after an internal investigation into a citizen's complaint, a news release states.

Evans had been on paid administrative leave for about two weeks during the probe, police Chief Dan Bilbrey said.

The investigation revealed Evans had failed to follow departmental policies, Bilbrey wrote in the two-paragraph release. The chief declined further comment.

Evans first was hired as a Ringgold police officer in March 2003, records show. He left in November 2008 to work for the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office and was rehired by Ringgold in May 2009.


Mother indicted in hot-car deaths

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The mother of two young children who died after being left inside a hot car in Smyrna, Tenn., has been indicted on charges of murder.

The Daily News Journal reports the Rutherford County grand jury has charged Samantha Harper with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated child neglect in the Aug. 2 deaths of her children.

Harper is accused of putting 2-year-old Savannah Marise and 3-year-old Daniel Marise in her car in the driveway outside the family's home before walking back inside and falling asleep. Harper, who was 25 years old at the time, said she found the children three hours later.


Officers on bikes get body cameras

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - Motorcycle police officers in Pigeon Forge soon will be outfitted with video cameras that attach to their uniforms.

With most police cars equipped with dashboard cameras, police Chief Jack Baldwin said the officers who ride motorcycles wanted a version they could use because it enhances their testimony in court and protects them against complaints.


Buckeye leaf brings traffic stop

MEMPHIS - A Texas couple says a Tennessee sheriff's deputy pulled them over after mistaking a car decal of the buckeye leaf for a marijuana leaf.

Bonnie and Guido Jonas-Boggioni told The Commercial Appeal that they were confused on Feb. 4 when a Shelby County sheriff's deputy pulled them over as they were driving on Interstate 40.

Bonnie Jonas-Boggioni said the deputy asked her why she had a marijuana sticker on the back of her car. He was referring to her Ohio State Buckeyes sticker, featuring a five-pointed leaf that is different than the seven-pointed marijuana leaf. She explained the difference to the deputy, and they continued their trip.

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