If you want something done, play dead.
Hamilton County Jail inmate Demetric Pointer spent the morning of Aug. 30 trying to talk to supervisor Lt. Byron Knight. But after two hours with no response, he'd had enough. He hatched a plan to get Knight's attention, according to records obtained Friday.
The 26-year-old tied a blanket across the bars of his cell. Then he sprawled out on his bed, pulled a sheet over his face and crossed his arms.
Another inmate summoned Officer Gary Tucker, who walked over to Pointer's cell and pulled down the blanket. There was Pointer, flat on his back, covered in a sheet.
Tucker called Pointer's name, but the man didn't respond. Tucker called out to another officer.
Officer Daniel St. Germaine stopped serving chow to Cell 5E2 and walked over.
He, too, called Pointer's name, but Pointer didn't respond. St. Germaine tugged the sheet away. Pointer looked fine - no signs of trauma, nothing wrapped around his neck.
The officers didn't want to open the cell door - Pointer was charged with aggravated assault and had a history of attacks on officers. Maybe this was a trick.
So St. Germaine grabbed a bottle of cleaning solution, aimed it into the cell and sprayed Pointer's feet.
Pointer didn't flinch. At that, St. Germaine knew he had a lieutenant to talk to.
When Lt. Knight arrived 10 minutes later, Pointer was sitting upright, ready to chat. He and Knight spoke briefly.
Then, Pointer promptly filed a complaint against St. Germaine, asking that the officer be charged with aggravated assault - with a spray bottle.
Instead, St. Germaine was suspended for one day without pay, and Pointer spent another month in jail before pleading guilty to assault; he was released on probation.
Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas. Follow @ShellyBradbury.