Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Former Deputy Charged In Connection With Shooting

   A former deputy with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department faces charges in connection with a shooting incident that occurred while he was recently employed through the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

   Authorities indicate that former Officer Brian Bedsworth has been charged with reckless endangerment with a weapon and reckless aggravated assault in connection with an incident that occurred March 22, 2009, at a home on Scott Town Road in Mount Pleasant.

   At that time officials reported that Bedsworth, a resident of Summertown, had conducted a traffic stop for speeding on driver Eddie Eugene Roberts, also of Summertown. When Roberts was unable to produce any sort of identification, Bedsworth told officials he fled the scene, trapping him between the door and the car and dragging him for a short distance. As Roberts fled, Bedsworth said he was able to fire upon the vehicle in an attempt to save his own life. Officials report Bedsworth fired nine rounds at the vehicle and that, as a result, Roberts sustained no injury.

   Roberts ultimately fled to his home in Summertown, then lead officers with various law enforcement agencies on a three-county chase. He allegedly sped recklessly through the Summertown area as well as southern Maury County and into Lewis County. He was apprehended after reportedly endangering the lives of officers and private citizens, rolling across spike strips, striking patrol cars, and crashing into a ditch.

   Roberts was arrested on numerous charges and transported to the Maury County Jail. As is protocol in cases where an officer has discharged a weapon, the shooting incident was turned over for investigation through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

   Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Tommy Goetz has voiced his opinion that the shooting “violated the department’s deadly force policy” because Bedsworth fired upon a fleeing motorist. The policy indicates that an officer “can use deadly force to protect himself from another when he perceives the threat of immediate, imminent death or serious bodily injury.”

   Bedsworth was involved in a similar incident in October of 2007, while employed through the local sheriff’s department. In answer to a BOLO (Be On the LookOut) alert for a suspect in a domestic violence case,  Bedsworth spotted suspect Ronald Joseph Murley in the drive-thru lane at the Lawrenceburg Wendy’s restaurant on North Locust Avenue. Refusing to exit his vehicle, officials indicated at that time that Murley used his truck to slam Bedsworth against the side of the building. Bedsworth subsequently fired upon Murley while he “hung onto the side of the truck,” striking Murley twice. Murley then lead officers on a chase before being captured.

   Per the local department’s operating procedure Bedsworth was placed on administrative leave with pay while an investigation into the discharge of the weapon was conducted through TBI. Bedsworth was subsequently cleared of any wrong-doing.

   Bedsworth resigned from the local agency in 2008 “for reasons unconnected with the shooting.” He began his employment through the Mount Pleasant Department in December of last year.

   Since the Maury County shooting incident Bedsworth has opted to resign that post, as well. He indicates that his decision to leave the law enforcement field was the result of concern for his family.