After 16 months and zero results, some Bradley County officials are wondering whether the TBI investigation into Sheriff Eric Watson has stalled out.
Several people inside and outside the sheriff’s office who came forward with evidence say they’ve never been asked to give sworn statements, and that the TBI agent who took over the case when the first agent retired six months ago has never contacted them.
The two Bradley County commissioners who pushed most strongly for the investigation – as well as people inside the department – say they’re frustrated and cynical, fearing the case is being intentionally delayed because Watson is close to TBI Director Mark Gwyn.
Watson is preparing for trial on 12 felony charges related to forging automobile titles, but those charges were brought by the Tennessee Department of Revenue, not the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. A hearing in that case is set for Dec. 13, attorney James F. Logan Jr. said.
And the results of a forensic audit of the sheriff’s office, requested by the county commission in August and conducted by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, will be released before the end of the month, a spokesman for the office said Thursday.