Collegedale police Chief Brian Hickman had two passengers – one of whom was a minor – in his 2005 Toyota Tacoma on Jan. 2 when he saw one of his officers chasing a suspect who sped through a red light and decided to continue following the suspect after the officer called off the pursuit.
Hickman was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 12 as a result of his involvement in the pursuit after City Manager Ted Rogers learned about the situation and noted it might violate certain Collegedale police policies, according to a statement by city spokesperson Bridgett Raper.
City attorney Sam Elliott declined any further comment Thursday, saying, “The [Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office] is doing what amounts to an internal affairs investigation and it is not appropriate to comment until it is complete and reviewed by the City Manager.”
The pursuit
Officer Brian Desmond was driving on Ooltewah Ringgold Road when he saw a man pass him while driving a white 1997 Ford Expedition and pulling a black utility trailer, according to records obtained by the Times Free Press. Desmond turned around, ran the man’s license plate and tried to initiate a traffic stop when the man pulled into the Circle K gas station on Little Debbie Parkway.