The Knoxville Police Department is currently reviewing a use of force incident involving an 18-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman following a traffic stop on Thursday night. This investigation is being conducted by the department's Office of Professional Standards, as confirmed by a press release from KPD.
Initial reports indicate that at just after 10 p.m. last Thursday, officers stopped a Nissan Altima in the 2600 block of Woodbine Avenue for an incomplete stop and a potential window tint violation. The driver, Zyquise Matthew, was later asked to exit his vehicle but reportedly did not comply immediately. Officers forcibly removed Matthew from the car, handcuffed him, and placed him in a patrol cruiser. He was charged with several offenses, including assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
During the altercation, Sumer Fletcher, who arrived on the scene and approached the officers, was also detained and faced a use of force before being charged with assault on a first responder. Fletcher was sent to the UT Medical Center for a medical evaluation and has been released since.
According to a supervisor who arrived at the scene for a preliminary review, officers reported that they employed force to effectuate the arrest. One of the officers involved has been placed on administrative reassignment with his police powers suspended, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The Knoxville Police Department emphasizes that this inquiry into the officers' use of force is at its early stages and more details will emerge as the Office of Professional Standards progresses with its fact-finding mission. For further developments on the case, follow updates as the investigations continue.
