The family of a young mum who died last month when a police car she was handcuffed in accidentally drove into a river has sued for $10 million (£8 million).
Tabitha Smith was arrested by Deputy Robert Leonard, after which she was transported away from the area in a police vehicle.
Leonard called in to his dispatch, informing his colleagues he'd be bringing her into jail.
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Within a matter of minutes, however, the investigating officer accidentally left the road driving both himself and 35-year-old Tabitha - who was handcuffed to the inside of the car - into the Hiwassee River, with his communication devices breaking as a result.
The police vehicle plummeted into the water, with responding authorities rapidly launching a colossal search operation for the two passengers.
According to District Attorney Russell Johnson, within minutes, the two bodies were later recovered from the scene - one being Tabitha, who'd become trapped after being strapped into the backseat.
Leonard's body was tragically recovered underwater some distance from the vehicle, implying he'd tried to escape but was unable to reach the surface.
The heartbreaking tragedy - which occurred on Valentine's Day - quickly prompted Tabitha's devastated son Nathan to file a lawsuit on her behalf, and he announced his intention to sue Meigs County for $10,000,000 in damages for his mother's death.
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District Attorney Russell Johnson said in a statement: "The person found in the backseat compartment area of deputy’s vehicle was covered in a deep layer of mud and silt. When the body was transported, it was apparent that it was a female, and that she was handcuffed.
"So she was in custody as was speculated from the Deputy Leonard’s calls to dispatch."
One sheriff’s office representative also said of the sad loss during a press conference: "It’s a hard time for us here. Something we don’t ever deal with in Meigs County.
"We’re a small, rural county here. Deputy Leonard had only been here a few months, but he had become part of this family."
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As per the suit, it's claimed that Leonard 'was not properly trained by the County to know his assigned area of patrol and know the nature of the incident location'.
It alleges that Leonard 'was not properly trained or supervised by the County to refrain from the use of his cell phone while transporting an arrestee in a patrol vehicle'.
Leonard had texted his wife shortly before the crash.
Tabitha's son Nathan's lawsuit also claims deprivation of liberty interest and bodily integrity, battery and assault claims.
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On top of that, it claims intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, loss of consortium and two violations of Tennessee code.
LADbible Media Group has contacted Meigs County for comment.
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