By Jordan Hall
McNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. -- An
officer is suspended from the Selmer Police Department after the Tennessee
Bureau of Investigation confirmed there was an alleged incident between the
officer and a suspect.
The suspect, Broderick Walker,
now has an attorney, DJ Norton, who said in an interview his client posed no
threat to the officer before the alleged assault.
"My investigation has
revealed there was no threat to him," Norton said.
Norton said Walker was being
transported from a hospital in McNairy County to the jail on charges including
DUI.
"It's Mr. Walker's
statement that Sergeant Pipkins struck him one time while in a patrol car
through the cage and when he got Mr. Walker out of the car he struck him in the
eye," Norton explained.
Norton said Walker was knocked
semi-unconscious and left on the jail floor for some time.
WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News reached
out to Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks Thursday for comment, but the chief did
not take time to go on record about what is being investigated.
Norton said the City of Selmer
can do better.
"There are good officers,
good ones on that force. They're here to protect and serve, not assault people
when they're arrested," Norton said.
The Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation confirmed they are looking into the incident.
Norton said there is an internal
investigation going on at the Selmer Police Dept.
Pipkins has been suspended
pending the investigation, but it is unclear if he is on paid or unpaid leave.
Selmer Police officials also
said there is video of the incident, which is being used in the investigation.