Former city of Lafayette Police Chief Ray Amalfitano, who resigned his post in September of this year amid an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), was arrested on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 by that bureau in relation to charges of allegedly assaulting a prisoner.
The charges stem from events that allegedly occurred after Keith Pippin was arrested back in March on charges of being drunk and disorderly. The investigation centered on allegations that Amalfitano assaulted Pippin, age 33, on March 22, 2012 after Pippin had been arrested by a Macon County Sheriff’s deputy, and while he was handcuffed and sitting in the back of the deputy’s patrol car. Pippin was arrested at Lafayette Elementary School after School Resource Officer Deputy Brian Carter noticed that his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Pippin had come to a school meeting on the campus.
There was an altercation with Carter during the arrest, as Pippin allegedly struck Carter in the chest and tried to flee. A Taser was deployed against him multiple times, as he allegedly resisted arrest and struggled with Carter.
Deputy Phil Harper of the Macon County Sheriff’s Department, and Det. Keith Tillman of the Lafayette Police Department then arrived, and Pippin was taken to the Macon County Jail. He was charged with one count of assault, one count of public intoxication, and one count of resisting arrest.
Pippin later told news sources that he had not been drunk that day, but had only been drinking the night before and not brushed his teeth. He had run, he said, because he didn’t want to be arrested for something he didn’t do. District Attorney Tommy Thompson states that when Pippin arrived at the Macon County Jail, he had injuries that indicated he’d been beaten.
Amalfitano told Nashville News source Channel 2 at the time that it was only “a bunch of rumors being spread around. I actually asked for them to look into this. As far as I know, nothing has been found. It’s just a bunch of small town rumors.”
Amalfitano was released from the Macon County Jail on his own recognizance in lieu of a $2,500 bond. His initial appearance date is October 12, 2012, in the Criminal Court of Macon County.
Post a Comment
