WSMV Channel 4 Federal lawsuit filed in videotaped deputies beating

Federal lawsuit filed in videotaped deputies beating

A lawsuit has been filed in Nashville on behalf of a Waverly man who was beaten and Tasered by deputies and police in Humphreys County.

Attorney David Raybin, representing Darrin Ring filed the suit Friday morning at the Federal Courthouse in Nashville.

The lawsuit was filed against Humphreys County, City of Waverly, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, Humphreys County deputies Timothy Hedge, James P. McCord and James B. Lee and Waverly police officers Joseph Parnell and Kinta Bell.

In the suit, it is asked that Ring be awarded "those damages to which he may appear that he is entitled by proof submitted in this case for his physical and mental pain and suffering both past and future, loss of enjoyment of life, and the violation of his rights guaranteed to him" by the Constitution.

The suit also asks for punitive damages against the individuals involved.

Channel 4 News reported in July that Humphreys County deputies had beaten Ring, 35, who was allegedly handcuffed, stripped naked, kicked, hit with a baton and Tasered on Jan. 23 outside of Waverly.

The lawsuit filed Friday reveals new enhanced audio where one officer says, "I'm missing a damn good movie on account of all this."

Another officer says,"this guy is a douche, let's (expletive) him up."

Ring suffered four broken ribs and a punctured lung from the beating. He remained in jail on the charge for five months until finally being released after the district attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges following the Channel 4 News report.

"You can't expect a citizen to respond to a command when they're being Tased with an intent to immobilize them," attorney Raybin said.

Hedge, McCord and Lee were fired in September after being placed on administrative leave with pay. A Waverly Police officer involved in the beating resigned from his position.

The deputies were fired because the county was racking up overtime with 20 percent of its officers at home getting paid.

"Because of the terrible economic impact this was having on the county general fund and his budget, as well as the enormous toll it was taking on the remainder of the deputies," County Mayor Jessie Wallace said at the time.

The video, first seen on Channel 4 News, of the officers' beating of Darrin Ring led to an FBI, TBI and Department of Justice investigation.

"A jury is going to have to decide whether or not this training is consistent with the Constitution. The sheriff has already said, publicly, that this was all ok, that this was consistent with their training," Raybin said.

The Humphreys County grand jury declined to indict the officials involved in the beating last month. However, the TBI and FBI joint investigation continued and could result in federal criminal charges being filed.

Now, two cases are running parallel, as a federal grand jury considers criminal charges against the men who beat Ring.

So far there has been no comment from the county or law enforcement in Humphreys County.

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