A former Grundy County sheriff's deputy has been indicted for using excessive force.
Gregory Higgins, 42, is charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of making false statements to the FBI, according to a news release.
The indictment alleges Higgins used unreasonable force when he assaulted a handcuffed arrestee identified as "A.L.," resulting in bodily injury, and that Higgins then made false statements to the FBI about the assault.
The first count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment while the second count carries a maximum penalty of five years, the release states. An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Knoxville Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Kathryn E. Gilbert of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Perry H. Piper.
The indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee J. Douglas Overbey, and FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Troy A. Sowers.
