Assault charge against Taser-wielding Chattanooga police officer dismissed

photo Chattanooga Police Officer Gregory Chambers

Hamilton County Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck agreed to dismiss an assault charge against a Chattanooga police officer on the request of the victim.

Assistant District Attorney Rex Sparks characterized the off-duty road rage incident in which Officer Gregory Chambers drew a Taser on Shawn Smith as "angry words and posturing and too much testosterone."

Shattuck ordered the men to shake hands during the hearing this morning and dismissed the case.

Chambers, 37, was placed on administrative leave following the Nov. 19 incident, pending an internal affairs investigation and the outcome of his court proceedings.

Chambers and Smith had an argument after a driving incident on Brainerd Road, according to court records.

A short while later Smith saw Chambers' white pickup truck pull in front of his 5512 Pearl St. home. Chambers told police that Smith carried a baseball bat, so retrieved his Taser from his vehicle.

Both men told Shattuck that there were no blows struck or weapons used in the assault, that it was simply a verbal altercation.

Following the hearing today Smith said he was glad the incident was over and he felt that Chambers apology was sufficient.

For more details see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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