COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A long-time Cookeville attorney and his wife were arrested Tuesday night after a scuffle with police in their home.
Attorney Jerry Burgess is defending the actions of he and his wife Lisa, a school teacher. The sheriff is also defending his deputies.
Putnam County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Burgess' house on Tuesday night after a 9-1-1 hang-up call from the home. When deputies arrived on the scene, the Burgess' said they asked the deputies to remove their shoes before entering the home.
"Things started going bad right after that," said Burgess.
"When we got there, things went downhill," said Putnam County Sheriff David Andrews.
Sheriff's deputy Josh reams was the first responding officer. That is standard procedure in a 9-1-1 hang-up. Due to a physical scuffle that broke out between almost everyone, Deputy Jason Phy had to be called for backup, and subsequently, Sergeant David Gibbons, a shift supervisor was also called out to help.
Burgess claims he was the victim, resulting in his wife going to the doctor.
The Sheriff's Department report cites deputies with some noteworthy wounds such as fingernail scratches on arms. Officers said those wounds were at the hands of Lisa Burgess. Jerry Burgess said he never saw anything like that.
Sheriff David Andrews is backing his responding officers and also Shift Sergeant David Gibbons.
Burgess maintains he and his wife were set-up, even roughed-up, but he stopped just short of claiming police brutality.
Wanna know what's really awesome...?
I EAT LUNCH IN THIS TEACHER'S CLASSROOM. 8D