Judge Says Trooper’s Stop Was Improper

OFF THE WIRE
Judge Says Trooper’s Stop Was Improper

Trooper Maintains Biker Was Driving Reckless
By Cynthia Williams
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A state trooper attempted on Wednesday to defend himself against charges that he made an improper traffic stop.

Video: Witnesses Testify In Motorcycle Stop

Trooper Jimmy Knowles came face-to-face with his accuser, and one witness came from as far away as Atlanta to testify in the hearing.

Andru Evans and Eddie Jennings both testified in traffic court that they told Knowles that he had pulled over the wrong person for speeding in October.

“I’m coming out of my truck, and I’m yelling him, telling, ‘You got the wrong guy. You got the wrong guy,’” testified Jennings.

The men were in separate vehicles traveling on Interstate 40 in Wilson County in October. Both said they remember seeing another biker, Rick Laude, on his motorcycle with his girlfriend going the speed limit with traffic.

Somewhere around mile marker 217, two other motorcycles zoomed by going at least 133 miles per hour. Not long after that, the witnesses said they saw blue lights and Knowles stopping Laude.

The trooper’s in-car video showed Laude with his hands up and Knowles pulling him from his bike. What was not on the video were the witnesses pleading with Knowles, telling him he had the wrong motorcycle rider.

“There were two separate cars where people were hollering out of their window, ‘You have the wrong guy,’ It was two bikes, not two people,” said Evans.

In court on Tuesday, Knowles admitted he made a mistake in believing Laude was part of the group of speeders, but stuck by his belief that Laude was reckless in driving on the shoulder of the interstate.

In the end, the judge ruled the October stop was improper and threw out the charges against Laude.

Knowles expressed regret but stuck by his claim that Laude was driving recklessly.

“I seen him pass on the shoulder. I made an honest mistake of pulling him over, thinking he was part of the pursuit,” said Knowles.

Knowles said he never struck Laude, but said he pulled the man from the bike because he believed he was ignoring his commands to get off the motorcycle.

He said he has been a trooper for seven years, and his record doesn’t reflect any past problems of this nature.

An internal investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol has recommended that Knowles be suspended for five days without pay. The suspension is going through the appeals process.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29147374/