Former Memphis Police Department officer Samuel Mills is back in a Shelby County jail cell after what investigators say was an unwanted visit to an ex-girlfriend’s home that collided head-on with a court-ordered protection order.
Police say Mills showed up at the woman’s residence on Friday and refused to leave, despite an active order that was supposed to keep him away. The alleged victim told officers she never gave Mills her new address and handed over voicemails and social-media messages that, according to investigators, indicate he knew she wanted zero contact. Mills, who was already arrested on New Year’s Day on a stalking charge, now faces fresh counts of harassment and violating that protection order.
According to Action News 5, arrest reports say Mills used a fake name when he showed up at the woman’s door and ignored repeated demands to leave. The outlet reports the victim turned over voicemails plus messages sent through Venmo and TikTok that she says show Mills knew he was not supposed to contact her at all.
Legal consequences under Tennessee law
Tennessee law treats violations of protection orders as criminal offenses that can trigger both civil and criminal responses. The judicial bench card from the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence notes that a knowing violation of an order of protection is a Class A misdemeanor and that a court may also hold a defendant in civil or criminal contempt. Bond in these cases must be set at a level that reasonably ensures the petitioner’s safety, with a statutory minimum of $2,500. The bench card further explains that stalking and harassment can be charged separately if investigators determine the behavior meets those specific statutory elements.
Officer's injuries and MPD status
Action News 5 previously reported that in August 2023, Mills was hit by a vehicle while working as an MPD officer, suffering a fractured skull and other serious injuries. He reportedly spent roughly two weeks unconscious before beginning to recover. The station said the Memphis Police Department confirmed Mills later retired from the force after the crash and that his family set up fundraising to help cover mounting medical bills. Those earlier injuries have kept Mills in the public eye and now form a dramatic backdrop to his current legal troubles.
Where to find records and help
Shelby County booking logs and local court dockets will list any upcoming hearings, bond details, and formal filings tied to the new charges against Mills. Court clerks can confirm dates, case numbers, and the next procedural steps.
For information about orders of protection, legal options, and safety planning, the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence offers bench cards, guidance, and connections to survivor resources. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
