Cleveland sex assault lawsuit moved to federal court

photo Ross Allen Wooten
Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - A $6 million lawsuit by a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a former Cleveland police officer has been moved to federal court in Chattanooga.

Jennifer Sharp's complaint names former officer Ross Allen Wooten, former police chief Wes Snyder and the city of Cleveland. She is asking for $3 million in actual damages and $3 million in punitive damages, citing mental and physical trauma, medical costs and loss of enjoyment of life.

The complaint, initially filed July 22 in Bradley County Circuit Court, states that "Officer Wooten entered Ms. Sharp's residence and sexually assaulted her" on two occasions on June 22, 2013, while "carrying out his official duties for the City of Cleveland."

The lawsuit holds Snyder and Cleveland accountable for Wooten's alleged sexual assault because the city "continued to retain Officer Wooten despite numerous complaints that it had received over the years about his predatory and rapacious sexual conduct while on duty."

The complaint also states that "the custom and practices" of Cleveland's police department actually "promoted an atmosphere of tolerance" for the kind of acts Wooten has been accused of committing, stating that city officials had taken little or no actions despite their knowledge that "some officers were dating or were sexually active with minor females."

Failure to supervise and discipline officers is among an array of factors contributing to conduct that violated Sharp's civil rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, according to the complaint.

The case was moved to federal court in mid-November at the defendants' request. A scheduling conference with U.S. District Judge Collier has been set for Jan. 23.

Wooten could not be reached for comment.

Sharp's attorney, John Wolfe of Chattanooga, said neither he nor his client could comment on the case.


According to Times Free Press archives, three sources with law enforcement ties told the newspaper in July 2013 of allegations that Wooten had sexual contact with a woman connected to an investigation at a public housing apartment.

The Cleveland Police Department began an internal investigation and Wooten was placed on administrative leave, according to news archives. He resigned on July 26, 2013.

Records and newspaper archives indicate that similar allegations had been raised against Wooten on at least two prior occasions since he joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2004.

Alleged sexual misconduct by Cleveland police officers has been documented by the Times Free Press.

A series of articles in late 2011 reported that the police department failed to investigate rumors of officers abusing prescription pills and having sexual relations with 14-, 15- and 16-year-old girls in 2008. Snyder said there was no proof to initiate an investigation at the time.

However, a memo on Cleveland Police Department stationery recorded that suspect officers were called to a May 2008 meeting in which they were warned against a variety of misbehaviors, from dating minors and having pornography on city phones to snorting crushed pills and publicly engaging in oral sex.

A 2009 investigation resulted in two officers going to state prison on statutory rape charges.

Separately, Jeremy Noble, Snyder's brother-in-law, was named in 2003 and 2004 reports saying he tried to date students while working as a school resource officer at Cleveland High School. In 2009, Noble was demoted and suspended without pay after he confessed to having three sexual affairs while on duty.

In January of this year, Snyder retired after video surfaced showing him repeatedly meeting a woman at a rental storage unit fitted out as a trysting site.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events