
Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen has determined that no charges will be filed in the death of David Batts, a man who died after an altercation with law enforcement at the same time in custody at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, as WATE reported. The statement from the DA's office, released yesterday, clarified that the Medical Examiner's Office concluded the cause of death was meningitis, not resulting from the physical confrontations inflicted upon him, noting also a urinalysis test indicated the presence of fentanyl in Batts' system, the impact of which on his death remained under review pending final toxicology results.
Batts, who suffered injuries while in custody on January 7, exhibited behaviors described as assaultive or resistive by officers at the time of the incident, leading to the use of force, including being struck and tased, claims backed by initial legal counsel Lance Baker in a statement reported by WBIR, Baker shared photos of the injured Batts in the hospital showing bruises and cuts. However, the DA's review deemed the officer's response appropriate, given Batts' demeanor.
The decision made by the DA comes amidst calls for transparency and accountability from Batts' family, now represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Crump denounced the incident as "unchecked brutality within the justice system," demanding the release of all footage associated with Batts' death, as per Crump's statement reported by WATE. The medical conclusions that Batts was suffering from meningitis, according to Allen, explained his behavior that led to the confrontation with corrections officers.