What's in the water in Cleveland, Tenn., and why are there so many sex scandals in the police department there?
Last week, two Cleveland officers were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation of allegations of extramarital sex and one woman's accusation that she was sexually assaulted July 31 by one of them at a rented cabin in Gatlinburg. On Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed that it has opened a case to look at the rape allegation.
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TBI investigates latest Cleveland police sex scandal
The allegations emerged after Cleveland investigators began looking into what was called a drunken Gatlinburg weekend when officers Carl Walls and Chad Nave, who are both married, took two women they met on duty with them to the cabin the officers had rented.
In June, two other officers were demoted and reassigned for policy violations related to the investigation of ex-chief Dennis Maddu's affair with the wife of one of those officers. The officer had found his wife and the chief trysting in a car just over the county line in Calhoun, Tenn.
In January 2014, longtime Cleveland Chief Wes Snyder retired after surveillance video showed him meeting a woman at a storage unit fitted out with a rug, blankets and brandy.
Two years ago in July, former officer Ross Wooten was suspended and later resigned over a third allegation of sexual misconduct since he joined the department in 2004. The woman also sued him in federal court.
In May 2013, Sgt. Bill Higdon was terminated for repeated policy violations after suggestive texts and explicit photos from him turned up on the phone of a high-dollar prostitute whose death by gunshot was ruled a suicide.
In December 2011, Chief Snyder (yes, the same one later found at the storage unit) claimed there was no evidence to investigate allegations 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 those officers, Dennis Hughes and Nathan Thomas, on charges of having sex with 14- and 16-year-old girls.
Perhaps Cleveland residents need to have their water checked for Viagra - right after they insist on a police department house cleaning.
Timeline of Cleveland sex scandals
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.