Two ex-Hamilton County deputies get favorable federal court ruling

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Two former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputies learned today whether or not they would be liable for a controversial 2019 traffic stop.

Former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Wilkey has been no stranger to controversy after several incidents that landed him both in criminal and federal court.

However, after Thursday’s ruling, him along with another former deputy and Sheriff Austin Garrett are proclaiming victory.

Wilkey’s attorney Jim Exum stated, “Daniel Wilkey has been under constant barrage for the last five years, with baseless accusations, and I’m glad the jury found in his favor today.”

Wilkey along with former deputy Bobby Brewer were found by a federal grand jury not liable for excessive force, assault, and battery in a July 20-19 traffic stop.

The stop, caught on dash cam, showed the two officers conducting a strip search of James Mitchell.

Mitchell, along with his attorney Robin Flores, argued that the search was excessive.

This was one of multiple cases that had been levied against Wilkey.

Notably, he had been charged at one point and sued over a different traffic stop caught on dashcam in Soddy-Daisy in which he allegedly baptized a woman.

He was never convicted on 44 criminal charges relating to these cases as they were dropped last year because a prosecutor said they couldn’t move forward with the cases.

The only settlement that has been reached was last week when the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office settled with Riley’s family for $100,000.

However, the attorneys for Wilkey and Brewer say that they believe a series of wins for their clients proves their innocence.

“We have now won all nine of those cases, three of the cases were dismissed by the plaintiffs, three were dismissed by the courts for evidence discovery violations, and we have now convinced two juries of our case,” said Brewer’s attorney Gerald Tidwell.

In addition, Sheriff Garrett said that this was a big win for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

“Five years is a long time to be punched constantly about doing things improper and violating people’s rights, and I’m grateful as Sheriff that we were exonerated from that, as we said we would be,” said Sheriff Garrett.

There are no further cases against either Wilkey or Brewer.

Exum said, “It was a tough case to put on, but after five long years he can finally get his life back and proceed on with his wife and his kids and not have to worry about this anymore.”

Attorney Robin Flores who represented Mitchell told us that his client and he are disappointed in the outcome but respect the jury’s decision.