Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold is speaking out about the controversial video of one of his officers, Deputy A.J. Ross, at a DUI checkpoint.
In his first interview since the video went viral, Sheriff Arnold spoke with local News Channel 5 about Deputy Ross stating that “No, he did not trash his constitutional rights.”
Sheriff Arnold went on to note that the stop and subsequent vehicle search were justified as the driver of the vehicle, MTSU student Chris Kalbaugh, refused to roll down his window. “That’s probable cause to ask the gentleman to pull over to the side of the road,” said Arnold.
Sheriff Arnold went on to note that Deputy Mike Hoekstra’s K-9 hit on the car in the exact same location 3 times. “That’s what gives them the probable cause to enter the vehicle,” said Arnold.
The Tennessean also reports that Sheriff Robert Arnold said Deputies Ross and Hoekstra found two marijuana seeds and marijuana shakings in Kalbaugh’s car but went ahead and released him without any charges.
Kalbaugh disputes that claim saying
“I have never had any drugs in my vehicle whatsoever. What they were referring to was the typical junk that collects in cup holders and whatnot.
“Them simply saying something ‘kind of looked like residue’ is not real proof of any actual drugs.”
Local radio station WMOT reported that on July 11, 2013: “The Rutherford County Sheriff’s office released a press statement saying that it had investigated the incident and concluded its deputy acted appropriately.”
The statement read in part:
July 11, 2013
Sheriff Robert Arnold
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Disciplinary action was not expected against a Rutherford County deputy whose traffic stop of a driver at a DUI Checkpoint gained national attention on YouTube last Friday, said Sheriff Robert Arnold.
The investigation showed Deputy A.J. Ross did not violate the civil rights of a driver, said Sheriff Robert Arnold. The driver notified the Sheriff’s Office he did not wish to file a complaint against Deputy Ross.
“He didn’t violate anybody’s rights,” Sheriff Arnold said. “He did his job.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login