Berke cops reject constitutional rule to Mirandize all arrestees

David Roddy gives one of many interviews as Chattanooga’s chief of police. (Photo Newschannel9.com) Chattanooga police department in its policy for traffic stops omits a significant element of public protection against arbitrary state power and poisons relations between the Mayor Andy Berke administration and members of the public, especially those traveling on the public right-of-way. […]

Jail officers torture teenager in restraint chair with prolonged Taser bursts

This video is not for queasy people, but shows the extent to which officials will go to represent state authority on a personal level to one held in its control. (80 seconds, Video YouTube) Deputies tortured a prisoner in Cheatham County on Nov. 5, 2016, using stun guns at point-blank range and holding the trigger […]

Gangland in blue: Forced blood draws, cavity searches, colonoscopies

Nurse Alex Wubbels resists an unlawful demand for a warrantless blood draw of an auto accident victim by cop Jeff Payne in Utah on July 26. (Photo YouTube) The Fourth Amendment was designed to stand between us and arbitrary governmental authority. For all practical purposes, that shield has been shattered, leaving our liberty and personal integrity […]

Judge frees Gaddy as city accepts engineer report giving house 100% grade

Stephen Greer, city attorney, fought to obtain access to private property though no criminal warrant has been filed in a 2 1/2-year-old fight against two elderly homeowners instituted by Dunlap, Tenn., mayor Dwain Land outside regular legal process. (Photo David Tulis) Carol Gaddy was freed Friday from jail after having served 14 days on a contempt […]

Gaddy demands relief, cites lawless process at hearing

Engineer Barry Fields of Crossville, Tenn., gives the Gaddy house a 100 percent grade. But the document is unlikely to satisfy demands from a judge that Dunlap city officials be allowed to search the house for unknown reasons. Carol Gaddy of Dunlap today makes an appearance in Sequatchie County circuit court in her petition to […]

Churches should create own courts, offer justice

The Christian church, with God’s grace and God’s law generously granted it, is the natural repository of godly wisdom and justice. Why not, then, consider the creating of church courts to handle disputes among Christians, and others, as well? The authority is 1 Corinthians 6:1 ff. “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, […]

Roddy’s 1st temptation: Re-militarization of police under Trump

The group Concerned Citizens for Justice expressed alarm over police militarization prior to the naming of David Roddy as Chattanooga police chief. (Photo Concerned Citizens for Justice) The seeming commitment of the Andy Berke administration toward police reform comes under a temptation days after city council voted to approve the nomination of David Roddy as […]

Feisty woman ‘1st political prisoner in Dunlap’

Carol Gaddy, holds an MIA flag given her by June Griffin of Dayton, Tenn. Next to Mrs. Griffin is Ruth Ann Wilson of Dayton. Partly visible is Jennifer Edmonds, a mom of six from Dayton. Mrs. Gaddy has just been released from two days in jail in November 2016 on a finding of contempt. (Photo […]