Five sober drivers, arrested for DUI, file federal lawsuits against officers who arrested them in TN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Five sober drivers have filed federal lawsuits against the Tennessee police agencies that arrested them for DUI.

One of the lawsuits against state troopers has already resulted in a settlement with a payout this week of $75,000 to the driver.

It’s the latest development in our “Sobering Problem” investigation, which is exposing how innocent drivers are being charged with the crime of driving under the influence.

Roger Lewis is suing the Mt. Juliet police officers who arrested him for DUI. In the body camera footage of his arrest, Lewis disclosed to the officers that he has neuropathy and has had six knee surgeries and was made to perform a field sobriety test while walking and standing on one leg.

The body camera footage shows him nearly falling several times. In the video, the arresting officer admitted it was his first DUI arrest.WSMV4 Investigates asked Lewis why he decided to sue.

“Because I saw 609 other people on your series, that’s gone through what I’ve gone through,” Lewis said. “And I realized that somebody, starting with the Governor up, has got to do something in Tennessee.”

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Lewis said the events of his arrest still haunt him.

“I went for almost six months that I didn’t hardly leave this house,” Lewis said.

“Is it just trauma from going through it?” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

“You have no idea. I had to go see a special doctor. I couldn’t sleep still. I’m still not back to normal,” Lewis said.

His bloodwork would later come back showing negative for alcohol, and the only drugs in his system were prescribed pain medication. His charge was dismissed.

He’s now suing the officers for false arrest and malicious prosecution.

WSMV4 Investigates sent the lawsuit to a spokesman for the Mt. Juliet Police Department. While the department acknowledged receiving the lawsuit, no further comment was offered.

Tyler Chandler, deputy chief of Mt. Juliet police, earlier wrote in an email that Kirkpatrick was right to arrest Lewis.

“Body-worn camera footage supports what the toxicology report already suggests: this person should not have been driving,” Chandler wrote.

WSMV4 Investigates has confirmed federal lawsuits have been filed against officers working for Clarksville police and LaVergne police. An additional lawsuit has been filed against a state trooper who arrested Labreesha Batey for DUI while she was sober.

“Why do you think people are turning to lawsuits now?” WSMV4 Investigates asked attorney Franklin Chancey, who is suing the state trooper on Batey’s behalf.

“Well, I think that DUIs have a real social stigma attached to them,” Chancey said.

Chancey also represents Thomas Manis, who was arrested by THP troopers in Monroe County in 2023.

Manis’ bloodwork would later come back with no alcohol and no drugs.

Manis, too, sued in federal court, citing unlawful seizure and false arrest. Court records show the THP responded in court, denying that Manis’ arrest was unlawful.

However, court records show the case was dismissed this month, and the Tennessee Board of Claims confirms that a settlement paid Manis $75,000.

“And so filing these cases for individuals who truly had not been drinking or using drugs is an attempt to get some kind of vindication that they can take to family or employers or other members of the community to say, hey, look, I really wasn’t guilty,” Chancey said.

Lewis said suing is the only way for innocent people to receive compensation for the officer’s wrongful actions.

“I felt like that somebody needed to hold their feet to the fire and hold them accountable,” Lewis said.

You can find all of the lawsuits below:

If there’s something you want WSMV4 Investigates to know for this story, please email Jeremy.finley@wsmv.com.