Staff file photo by Ben Benton / Bledsoe County Mayor Gregg RidleyA Bledsoe County, Tennessee, man is seeking $1.75 million in a federal lawsuit against a Bledsoe County deputy, a Pikeville police officer and city and county governments over an August 2018 incident in which he claims the officers used "excessive force."
James Arthur Evans says Pikeville police officer Ricky Hodge and Bledsoe County deputy Chase Roberts used excessive force during a domestic violence call at his home at 11:30 p.m. CDT on Aug. 22, 2018, causing him to "sustain severe, permanent injuries and emotional distress," according to a 20-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court Aug. 21, 2019.
Evans accuses the officers of "jumping on top of him, slamming him to the ground, breaking his foot and tasing (sic) him," according to the complaint.
Pikeville Mayor Phil "Winkie" Cagle said Monday that the suit had not yet been served on the city or its officers yet.
"I didn't know anything about it till Thursday or Friday," Cagle said.
Cagle said he knows Evans and Pikeville's officer personally, and he defended city police.
"Ricky Hodge is an outstanding officer. As long as he's been with the city, I have not had any problems with him ever," Cagle said. "I have very, very, very few complaints out of my police department. I have no problems with any officers.
"We just don't get complaints."
Regarding Evans, Cagle said, "I've been an acquaintance of James Evans for many, many years. But I haven't had any dealings with him in a while."
Cagle didn't elaborate further.
Bledsoe County Mayor Gregg Ridley also said Monday neither he nor Sheriff Jimmy Morris have seen paperwork in the suit.
Ridley said he was only aware of the suit through local media.
"I wouldn't be able to comment on pending litigation," Ridley said. "And I don't know anything about this suit."
According to the suit, Hodge and Roberts answered a domestic violence call at Evans' home where he alleges he was "wrongfully battered, unlawfully seized and detained against his will " Evans claims the two officers took the actions while he was "not acting with harm toward anyone else at the time of the incident," documents state.
Evans claims negligence in screening, training and disciplining the officers and that the city and county failed to investigate allegations of violations of rules and regulations, the suit states. These actions or omissions constituted a violation of Evans' Fourth and Fourteenth amendments rights under the U.S. Constitution and the city's and county's alleged failure to enforce laws and departmental policies makes them liable for damages, the lawsuit claims.
In a list of damages, Evans is seeking compensation for medical, hospital, and pharmaceutical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, diminution in the enjoyment of life and loss of earnings current and future, permanent impairment and injury, attorney fees and $1 million in punitive damages and at least $750,000 for compensatory damages, court documents state.
Cagle and Ridley said city and county governments have not retained attorneys in the suit since no court papers have been formally served.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.