Officer indicted after shooting at ATV

Stanley Dunlap

A Rutherford police officer has been indicted by a Gibson County grand jury after he shot a man accused of stealing an all-terrain vehicle in September, authorities said.

Officer William "Bill" Wetherell has been indicted on one count of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment in the Sept. 6 incident, said John Mehr, special agent in charge with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Jackson.

Wetherell was on duty and in pursuit of the four-wheeler driven by Josh Montgomery, of Bradford, when he tried to stop the vehicle by firing shots, Mehr said Tuesday.

One of the bullets grazed Montgomery in the back, he said.

The grand jury also indicted Montgomery on counts of theft of property, operating an unauthorized vehicle on a highway, reckless driving and evading arrest, Mehr said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol performed a recreation of the accident before the TBI handed over the investigation to the District Attorney's Office, he said.

Mehr said, according to state law, officers must use their judgment whenever firing any shots and that usually means the officer's life or other citizens' lives have to be in immediate danger before an officer can use deadly force.

Wetherell and Rutherford city officials could not be reached for comment.

Wetherell is scheduled to appear in Gibson County Court next week.

Source: http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20090107/NEWS01/901070311

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