Attorney of East Ridge student arrested in 2022 viral video asks for DA to be removed from case

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF)- The case of a viral arrest inside of East Ridge High School over two years ago still has not been resolved.

The controversial arrest of Tauris Sledge inside of the East Ridge High School gym in September 2022 sparked much controversy in the community.

His case remains in limbo over two years later, as his defense attorney is raising concerns about the role the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office is playing in his case.

Chrissy Mincy, Sledge’s defense attorney, says that there is no reason for this case to still be ongoing.

Sledge was arrested after a physical altercation with Hamilton County SRD Tyler McRae after failing to comply with orders inside of the school’s gym.

He faces misdemeanor resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges, but has also filed a civil lawsuit against the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Mincy said, “This matter has been incredibly difficult for my client. It’s been admittedly difficult for me to explain to my client why the District Attorney is choosing to prosecute a B misdemeanor of a diversion eligible, barely adult, for an incident that occurred in his senior year of high school.”

She accuses the DA office of interfering with the civil lawsuit.

Mincy said, “It is upon information and belief that the Hamilton County Attorney’s office is being consulted regarding the resolution of this matter and the prosecution of this matter and the Hamilton County Attorney has an ethical obligation to pursue a remedy for the civil case.”

The DA’s office, represented by Andrew Besler during the hearing, denies this.

Besler said, “The State is just not aware of anything that would prevent our office from at least consulting with the Hamilton County Attorney and that would not give rise to an appearance of impropriety. There’s no monetary benefit here.”

They insist that their case move forward independent of Sledge’s lawsuit.

Besler said, “The reason that we are prosecuting it as that we can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Sledge committed crimes. Potentially that can be a bar to his civil claims.”

 This trial was supposed to begin on Tuesday but it has continued until this matter is resolved. Judge Dunn says she will decide this situation via a written opinion