Cleveland officer cleared of domestic charges

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A judge has ruled that Cleveland police officer Jeffrey Griggs did not violate an order of protection filed by his wife, Cindy, when he returned to his home after the couple had separated.

Griggs was arrested March 3 when his wife and her father noticed a strange vehicle at the couple's Chestuee Road home. Griggs and two other police officers were on the property.

Bradley Circuit Judge Michael Sharp said Griggs had no reason to believe his wife would be there since she had moved out of the house "by her own candid admission" and was living next door with her parents, according to the opinion filed in Bradley County Circuit Court.

Sharp also stated there was nothing to suggest Griggs intended to harm his wife.

"It appears highly unlikely to me that if that was his intention that he would have taken two other police officers with him to undertake some bad purpose," he said.

Sharp also noted another key consideration: the order of protection that Griggs allegedly violated since has been dismissed.

After the ruling Griggs' attorney, James Logan, said his client "continues to be thankful for the prayers and support of people in our community."

The separation stems from a Feb. 28 incident in which they scuffled over a camera that the police officer had used to covertly photograph his wife and then-police chief Dennis Maddux in a parked car in Calhoun, Tenn.

In divorce papers, Griggs claims the two were kissing. Maddux dropped Cindy Griggs off and left the scene.

In a McMinn County deputy's report, Cindy Griggs claimed she met with Maddux to discuss a previously unreported incident of domestic violence. Griggs was charged with domestic assault after the struggle, but the charge was dismissed in McMinn County General Sessions Court on March 11.

Maddux, whose first official day as chief was March 1, was demoted back to captain of support services. He and Griggs are on paid administrative leave while the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation review the matter.

City Manager Janice Casteel also ordered a comprehensive review of the police department's policies and procedures. Last month, the City Council named a review panel and agreed to hire Larry Wallace, a 40-year law enforcement veteran and a former director of the TBI, to conduct the review.

Wallace has gathered information from more than 80 people, including 20 police officers and several judges, said City Councilman Dale Hughes, who serves on the police department review committee.

"It's an investigative time, and he's done a good job talking to the right people," Hughes said.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

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