Circuit Jury Verdict a win for Davis & Hoss, PC
11.11.2009

A Hamilton County Circuit Court jury on Wednesday rendered a verdict in favor of Chattanooga Police Officer Mark Smeltzer on all counts. Danny Gray and Don Ray claimed that Mark Smeltzer and other Chattanooga police officers assaulted, battered and falsely imprisoned them on Feb. 19, 2004. The incident stemmed from a countywide fugitve roundup, where officers executed outstanding felony warrants. Sgt. Smeltzer and members of his team were pursuing felon Terry Hannah on a narcotics warrant and arrived at Danny's Motors on Rossville Bloulevard where an argument between Gray and the officers resulted. The jury deliberated 40 minutes before deciding that Sgt. Smeltzer was not responsible for any of the claims of the plaintiffs. Officer Smeltzer was represented by attorney Lee Davis and the city by attorney Phil Noblett. Attorney Davis said, "Mark is happy to have this behind him and continue on with his work with the Chattanooga Police Department. We appreciate the two days of conscientious service by this jury, and we felt like the plaintiffs could have been more cooperative with these officers trying to do their jobs." The case was tried before Judge Marie Williams on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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