Officer Edwin MillanThe Cleveland Police Department has now suspended four officers in less than a month as officer-involved scandals continue to pummel the department.
Cleveland Police Officer Edwin Millan was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday evening, according to Evie West, spokeswoman for the department.
Tenth Judicial District Attorney Steve Crump told the Times Free Press on Friday that the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Bradley County Sheriff's Office and Georgia authorities have been investigating an incident involving Millan since May.
"That investigation is complete and our office is reviewing the findings contained within the investigative file," Crump said. " The investigation relates to the reported theft and burning of [Millan's] automobile."
According to an incident report from the Murray County Sheriff's Office, a white 2011 Chrysler 300 was found on fire around 11 p.m. on May 16 near the Georgia-Tennessee state line on Highway 225.
A Murray County deputy sent to the scene noticed a red gas can in the passenger side floorboard and reported that it appeared someone had intentionally set the car on fire. He searched the area and could not locate any suspect, according to the report.
The license plate on the car was traced back to Millan as the owner, the report states.
The next morning, Millan reported to the Cleveland Police Department that his car had been stolen. He said that sometime during the night it was taken from the street outside his apartment on Inman Street, according to the incident report.
Millan told police his car was valued at $25,000, and he did "not know who may have taken his vehicle."
Crump said he received a call from acting-Police Chief Mark Gibson the day after Millan made the report. Crump said Gibson requested that he look into the investigation because Gibson "had significant questions about the report and felt that the matter should receive additional scrutiny."
After that call, Crump said he engaged the Criminal Investigation Division of the Tennessee Highway Patrol to look into the incident.
"I am grateful to Chief Gibson for his candor in contacting me and assistance during this investigation," Crump said in a written statement Friday. "The transparency exhibited by Chief Gibson is important in these types of situations."
The City of Cleveland is in the process of hiring a new police chief, and Gibson is among the final three candidates.
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at 423-757-6592 or 423-883-9805.
Timeline of City of Cleveland police scandals
› Sept. 6: Cleveland firefighter Cody Vaughn was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with public intoxication and providing or enticing a female minor to consume alcohol.› Aug. 19: Sgt. Eddie Bonnett was placed on administrative leave after a female officer complained to her supervisor that Bonnett, her shift sergeant, texted an “inappropriate” photo from his personal cellphone to hers.› Aug. 7: Officers Carlton Walls and Chad Nave are placed on administrative leave to investigate allegations of extramarital sex and a woman’s accusation that she was sexually assaulted July 31 at a rented cabin in Gatlinburg.› June: Lt. Steve Tyson and Officer Jeffrey Griggs’ demotions and reassignments upheld for policy violations related to investigation of ex-Chief Dennis Maddux’s affair with Griggs’ wife.› May: Maddux submits retirement letter after internal affairs investigators said he lied about the relationship and events involving Cindy Griggs.› February: Officer Jeff Griggs finds his wife and Maddox trysting in a car across the county line in Calhoun, Tenn.› January 2014: Longtime Chief Wes Snyder retires after surveillance video showed him meeting a woman at a warehouse storage unit fitted out with a rug, blankets and a bottle of brandy.› July 2013: Former Officer Ross Wooten is suspended and later resigns over the third allegation of sexual misconduct since he joined the department in 2004. The woman also sued him in federal court.› May 2013: Sgt. Bill Higdon is terminated for repeated policy violations two months after suggestive texts and explicit photos from him turn up on the phone of a high-dollar prostitute whose death by gunshot was ruled a suicide.› December 2011: Snyder claims there was no evidence to investigate allegations of that officers were giving pills and alcohol to teenage girls and having sex with them before one officer shot and wounded another in December 2008. An investigation led to the imprisonment of Officers Dennis Hughes and Nathan Thomas on charges of having sex with 14- and 16-year-old girls.