Third officer files lawsuit against Soddy-Daisy over intimidation in Whaley case

SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Another lawsuit has been filed against the city of Soddy-Daisy in a 2018 vehicular manslaughter case.

Justin Whaley, a former Hamilton County EMT, had been convicted of the death of James Brumlow and sentenced to nine years in prison in 2023.

However, that conviction was overturned and a new trial ordered because the Soddy Daisy Police Department did not disclose the lead investigator in the case, Jeremy Wright, was under investigation for sexual misconduct.

Wright had been a key witness in Whaley’s case.

Former Soddy Daisy detective Brandon Miller is the third former police officer to accuse both Police Chief Mike Sneed and City Manager Burt Johnson of intimidation to prevent this information from leaking.

Two other officers, Eric Jenkins and Jake Elrod, had previously testified that they had been threatened, and ultimately were fired for speaking out.

Miller is seeking one million dollars in damages from the city of Soddy-Daisy.

Whaley’s retrial is still pending at this time.