Sisters File Complaint Against Chattanooga Police Officers

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Ashley Suggs, says, "I was terrified. At this point, I’m afraid for my life."

In an exclusive interview, Jasmine Smith and her sister, Ashley Suggs, outline exactly what they say happened after getting nursery water at a Wal-Mart store off Brainerd Road.

Smith says, "When I went to unbuckle my seat belt, he started yelling he was going to shoot."

Suggs adds, "I turned around and looked and I saw all those guns and I cannot lie, I peed my pants."

Chattanooga Police say they were responding to an assault and robbery call.

Dispatch reportedly told them the suspects were in a black and white Crown Victoria.

That’s why they say these women were pulled over.

Suggs says, "I saw the people drive away from the fight. They were not in a crown vic. They were in a minivan."

Smith adds, "I kept asking, why did I get pulled over? Why was I arrested.  He cursed, told me to shut the f up, and was calling me names."

Suggs tells us her hand was sprained and fractured after an Chattanooga officer cuffed her.

Smith says her leg was also sprained when an officer put her in the back of his squad car.

Smith adds, "I said, "my leg, my leg." And he continued to slam the door about three times on my leg."

Chattanooga Police confirm the two were then taken in front of the alleged victim.

And victim said, "No, these women were not involved."

Suggs tells us, "Everybody that pulled a gun should be in trouble, because we were not violent or combative at all."

After the verbal abuse reportedly continued, the sisters filed an official complaint with the police department’s internal affairs department.

A spokesperson told us so far, they do not have information verifying the complaints.

However, a thorough investigation will be completed.

David Roddy, a Deputy Chief with the Chattanooga Police Department, says, "And then the findings of that investigation are submitted up through the chain of command, all the way up to the chief of police."

Then they’ll all make a recommendation, if they believe the claims are real.

The process could take months.

Meanwhile, Smith hopes dash cam video will paint an even clearer picture of what she calls an unbelievable nightmare.

Suggs adds, "This has to stop. They’re getting away with too much."

Smith says she tried to take cell phone video during the ordeal, but she says it was deleted by a Chattanooga police officer.

Smith is now in the process of figuring out if the video was backed up on her i-Cloud.