Written by: Chloe Smith
Two Collegedale police officers have resigned from their positions, and one has been placed on paid administrative leave, following an ongoing investigation into an alleged incident at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The UTK Police Department was made aware of the incident on Nov. 2 after receiving a complaint about the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile during a football game at the Neyland stadium, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported based details contained in a UTK police report.
According to a Nov. 15 news release issued by the Collegedale Police Department, the two officers that resigned were Burlon Hayworth and Andrew Carter, and the officer on paid leave is Corporal Josh Parson.
The CPD became aware of the incident on Nov. 5, the release stated, and an internal affairs investigation quickly followed in response. It was determined that the allegations “potentially involved significant violations of department policy.”
“There was an incident we had been made aware of involving off-duty officers at Neyland Stadium that required their interaction with the facilities event staff and law enforcement,” wrote Collegedale Asst. Chief Jamie Heath in an email to the Accent. “The alleged conduct of these off-duty officers potentially violated several department policies, but no additional criminal allegations were made or were being pursued by law enforcement in Knoxville. We immediately launched an internal investigation into the incident.”
According to Heath, one week after the CPD learned of the incident and opened an investigation, the University of Tennessee Police Department notified the CPD of a criminal complaint allegedly involving CPD off-duty officers.
“We have provided UTK PD our full cooperation,” he said, “and they have provided the same to us.”
Further details were not provided, as the investigation is still ongoing, according to the CPD.
