Sheriff responds to Toney attorney claims

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responds to information issued by the attorney for Charles Toney during a press conference.

Civil Rights attorney Lee Merritt said his client suffered a collapsed lung and broken bones  during the arrest.

The Sheriff says that’s not the information they got from the hospital:

“Sheriff Hammond’s prior comments at the press conference on Monday, December 10^th regarding Mr. Toney’s health status were based on information contained in the Medical Intake Report completed at the time of Mr. Toney’s booking by Erlanger Medical personnel.

Mr. Toney was seen by Erlanger Medical Staff at the Hamilton County Jail on December 3, 2018 at 12:04 pm. The medical intake report completed for Mr. Toney does not reflect a broken finger, a collapsed lung, broken ribs, or a broken nose.

Mr. Toney and his attorney may contact the HCSO and request his Medical Intake Report to be released. Approving the release of this report should not be an issue as Mr. Toney and his attorney have already released information regarding his personal medical condition.

While the HCSO cannot address any specific medical reports given to the local media by Mr. Toney or his counsel, the HCSO can confirm our medical records, completed by Erlanger Medical Staff contractually working in our Jail at the time of his booking, do not reflect any of the injuries aforementioned by Mr. Toney or his legal counsel.”