Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher has given a maximum punishment to an officer who fired four shots toward a vehicle after he said the driver backed into his vehicle with him standing behind it.
Chief Fletcher sustained a finding of “improper use of force – discharge of firearm.” He suspended Officer Alex Olson for 30 days without pay – the maximum suspension allowed by city of Chattanooga ordinances.
Attorney Stevie Phillips of the firm of Davis and Hoss said, "Officer Alex Olson made a split-second decision to use force against a suspect who was trying to evade him in a car, carrying a gun, and who then rammed Officer Olson with his car.
The Chattanooga Police Department charged this violent criminal with the aggravated assault of Officer Olson, which a Judge found sufficient evidence to support.
"The Fraternal Order of Police and many veteran members of the Chattanooga Police Department support Officer Olson’s actions.
"The decision to punish Officer Olson is not supported by federal law or policy. We can either allow individuals to drive on Chattanooga streets with guns and assault officers in their vehicles or support the officers who try and stop this type of criminal behavior.
"Davis & Hoss will fight to reverse this decision which we have done many times in the past. Officer Olson has an impeccable service record and was doing his job for the citizens of Chattanooga. Let’s prosecute the violent criminals, not persecute the officers who arrest them."
Police said, "On Oct. 5, 2014, Officer Olson was involved in an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) in which no one was harmed. Following the incident – as with every firearm discharge outside of training – the Chattanooga Police Department initiated an administrative (non-complaint) investigation by Internal Affairs to review the officer’s actions. Per policy, Officer Olson had been placed on administrative (paid) leave performing non-law enforcement duties during the investigation."
Police said Chief Fletcher made his finding "after a complete review of the investigation – which included recommendations from Internal Affairs, the Administrative Review Committee and Officer Olson’s chain of command."
Chattanooga Police charged 20-year-old Luster Dewayne Deloney in the incident in Brainerd. Deloney, of 3805 Mark Twain Circle, was charged with evading arrest, DUI, reckless endangerment, driving on a revoked license, a stop sign violation, aggravated assault and improper backing of vehicle.
Police said Officer Olson spotted a Nissan Altima run a stop sign on South Seminole Drive at Navajo Drive. The officer followed the car to the dead end of Windsor Court. He said he got out of his vehicle and was behind it when the driver backed into the patrol car, causing heavy damage.
Officer Olson then fired four shots at the Nissan, including one that blew out a tire.
The officer said the driver backed up aggressively for a long distance before driving off.
The vehicle was later found behind an apartment building on Pinewood Avenue with several bullet holes in it.
An officer saw Deloney and Derrick McKinney on foot a short time after the incident, but did not know they were involved. Police said McKinney was a passenger in the vehicle.
Deloney later came in and gave a statement, saying he was not in Brainerd at the time.