A tragic incident unfolded as a sheriff’s deputy and a female detainee met a fatal end after the officer inadvertently steered his patrol car into the Tennessee River.
Robert J. Leonard, serving as a deputy with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, relayed via radio communication on Wednesday his intention to transport an arrested individual back to the local detention facility, as revealed by District Attorney Russell Johnson during a news briefing on Thursday.
Following this communication, Leonard ceased responding to subsequent check-ins from dispatchers.
A final radio transmission from the deputy uttered the word “water” shortly after he had notified his wife via text message regarding the detainee’s arrest, according to Johnson.
A search effort conducted by a dive team along a bridge near the deputy’s last known whereabouts led to the discovery of Leonard’s submerged vehicle in the river, as outlined by Johnson.
Upon retrieval of the vehicle from the water on Thursday, investigators encountered the lifeless body of Tabitha Smith, the individual detained by Leonard, found amidst the mud-covered back seat, while the driver’s position remained unoccupied.
Unfamiliarity Cited in Deputy’s Fatal Accident
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery of Leonard’s remains on Thursday evening.
The district attorney posited that the deaths were accidental, emphasizing that the deputy was unfamiliar with the area.
Johnson stated on Thursday, “We’re operating under the theory that it was an accident. He missed his turn. He wasn’t familiar, and he was doing other things that may have caused him to go underwater. There’s skid marks and some scratch marks too. So there’s some indication that he was on the brakes, at least trying to stop… So it sounds like, you know, just an unfortunate accident.”
Chief Deputy Brian Malone of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that Leonard, originally from New York, had joined the sheriff’s office in December.
The Knox County Medical Examiner confirmed to CNN on Monday that the deceased woman found in the car was identified as Smith.
Details regarding the charges against Smith at the time of her detention were not immediately available.
