Meigs Co. Sheriff's Office releases more details on drowning deaths of deputy, detainee
From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The State of Tennessee's Office of the 9th District Attorney General released several reports Monday, sharing their findings from the accident that resulted in the drowning deaths of Meigs Co. Sheriff's Office Deputy RJ Leonard and detainee Tabitha Smith.
The newly unsealed autopsy reports determined that both Deputy Leonard and Tabitha Smith drowned when the patrol vehicle being driven by Leonard plunged into the Tennessee River at Blythe Ferry.
A Meigs County Grand Jury has recommended that the county place barriers and/or a gate to prevent others from the same tragic mistake, along with warning lights. They also recommended that the county provide funding for GPS navigation systems to be installed in all Meigs County Sheriff's patrol vehicles.
Smith was handcuffed in the rear of the patrol vehicle.
The patrol car, with her body inside, was later recovered. Leonard's body was recovered after a brief search, not far from where the vehicle was originally located.
"She's handcuffed if you remember. So like I said it had to be a horrific situation for her and to what extent he was trying to get her out, maybe he was the one to damage that window in the process we'll never know," said DA Johnson.
The report draws the following conclusion: "The only conclusion we can come to with any certainty is that this is a tragic accident for both Deputy RJ Leonard, Tabatha [sic] Smith and their families and friends. These are horrific circumstances, and their manner of death is difficult to imagine. Folks will take this information and speculate all that they want. I know that civil lawsuits have been and will be filed, but any amount of speculation or lawsuits will obviously not bring back RJ or Tabatha to their respective families, and this is the most grievous aspect.
This was a rough time, to say the least, for the Meigs County Sheriff's Office, the family of Deputy Leonard and, obviously, Tabatha Smith’s family. The Meigs County community has suffered as a result of this tragedy, and still does to this day."
As the timeline of events was reconstructed, three forms of data (GPS, dispatch transmissions, and text messages) were employed to determine location and communication.
The GPS data gives miles per hour every few seconds. It showed that Deputy Leonard’s vehicle was traveling at approximately 56mph at 10:03:31pm on Blythe Ferry Road nearing the landing, then still at 56mph at 10:03:39pm , and then the last moving data point was 44 mph at 10:03:45pm when it is assumed that he hit the water, and then finally at 10:03:51pm his vehicle is at 1.6mph, presumably the momentum of the vehicle moving into the river. This data depends on how well the times on the GPS device and his cell phone are synchronized, or not, the report explained.
"Now he should've taken a right hand turned Eastbound onto Blythe Ferry Road to go to Hwy 58 back to the jail," said District Attorney General Russell Johnson on Deputy Leonard taking a wrong turn leading onto Blythe Ferry Rd.
Leonard's lack of familiarity with the road, especially on a dark and foggy night with a person in custody, whose history and demeanor with law enforcement was one of drug and alcohol-fueled disruption (one who had both Methamphetamine and marijuana in her system), may have played a role in this tragic event, the report continued.
"It was just a horrible mistake based on the factors of the night, fog, the person in the back, and trying to use a phone or GPS device for navigation," said DA Johnson.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Meigs County Sheriff's Office will be holding a press conference Monday, Nov. 25 at 11:00am regarding the February drowning deaths of Deputy RJ Leonard and Tabitha Smith.
Deputy Leonard arrested Smith shortly before driving his patrol car into the Tennessee River.
As a result, they both died.
The meeting will cover reports generated by both the MCSO's office and the THP's Critical Incident Response Team's investigation, according to 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson.
At the meeting they will play the final radio transmissions of Deputy Leonard alongside the original 911 call.
Smith's husband filed a $100 million lawsuit in April.
There are no new criminal charges being announced, but more information is expected to be presented.
The newly unsealed autopsy reports determined that both Deputy Leonard and Tabitha Smith drowned when the patrol vehicle being driven by Leonard plunged into the Tennessee River at Blythe Ferry.
A Meigs County Grand Jury has recommended that the county place barriers and/or a gate to prevent others from the same tragic mistake, along with warning lights. They also recommended that the county provide funding for GPS navigation systems to be installed in all Meigs County Sheriff's patrol vehicles.
Smith was handcuffed in the rear of the patrol vehicle.
The patrol car, with her body inside, was later recovered. Leonard's body was recovered after a brief search, not far from where the vehicle was originally located.
"She's handcuffed if you remember. So like I said it had to be a horrific situation for her and to what extent he was trying to get her out, maybe he was the one to damage that window in the process we'll never know," said DA Johnson.
The report draws the following conclusion: "The only conclusion we can come to with any certainty is that this is a tragic accident for both Deputy RJ Leonard, Tabatha [sic] Smith and their families and friends. These are horrific circumstances, and their manner of death is difficult to imagine. Folks will take this information and speculate all that they want. I know that civil lawsuits have been and will be filed, but any amount of speculation or lawsuits will obviously not bring back RJ or Tabatha to their respective families, and this is the most grievous aspect.
This was a rough time, to say the least, for the Meigs County Sheriff's Office, the family of Deputy Leonard and, obviously, Tabatha Smith’s family. The Meigs County community has suffered as a result of this tragedy, and still does to this day."
As the timeline of events was reconstructed, three forms of data (GPS, dispatch transmissions, and text messages) were employed to determine location and communication.
The GPS data gives miles per hour every few seconds. It showed that Deputy Leonard’s vehicle was traveling at approximately 56mph at 10:03:31pm on Blythe Ferry Road nearing the landing, then still at 56mph at 10:03:39pm , and then the last moving data point was 44 mph at 10:03:45pm when it is assumed that he hit the water, and then finally at 10:03:51pm his vehicle is at 1.6mph, presumably the momentum of the vehicle moving into the river. This data depends on how well the times on the GPS device and his cell phone are synchronized, or not, the report explained.
"Now he should've taken a right hand turned Eastbound onto Blythe Ferry Road to go to Hwy 58 back to the jail," said District Attorney General Russell Johnson on Deputy Leonard taking a wrong turn leading onto Blythe Ferry Rd.
Leonard's lack of familiarity with the road, especially on a dark and foggy night with a person in custody, whose history and demeanor with law enforcement was one of drug and alcohol-fueled disruption (one who had both Methamphetamine and marijuana in her system), may have played a role in this tragic event, the report continued.
"It was just a horrible mistake based on the factors of the night, fog, the person in the back, and trying to use a phone or GPS device for navigation," said DA Johnson.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Meigs County Sheriff's Office will be holding a press conference Monday, Nov. 25 at 11:00am regarding the February drowning deaths of Deputy RJ Leonard and Tabitha Smith.
As a result, they both died.
The meeting will cover reports generated by both the MCSO's office and the THP's Critical Incident Response Team's investigation, according to 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson.
Smith's husband filed a $100 million lawsuit in April.
There are no new criminal charges being announced, but more information is expected to be presented.
Posted in Local News
Recent
Dalton man arrested after shooting at woman, SWAT standoff
January 20th, 2025
Trump taps former TN education commissioner Penny Schwinn as next US Deputy Secretary of Education
January 20th, 2025
CPD investigates pedestrian killed on Highway 153; truck slams into TDOT vehicle on scene
January 20th, 2025
Bradley County School Board meeting recap
January 17th, 2025
Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks delivers State of the City address
January 17th, 2025
Archive
2025
January
Motorcycle driver killed in single-vehicle crashTBI investigating deadly deputy-involved shooting at local Publix locationDriver rams New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing at least 10. FBI investigating as 'act of terrorism'TVA winter prep, saving energy tipsLakesite man arrested, arson and possession of Molotov cocktailUPDATE: Car that veered over side of East Brow Road still unrecoveredCold weather car preparationNew Tennessee license requirement for certain state residentsDog helps save North Chattanooga family from early morning fireLee University mourns passing of veteran faculty, Coach Kay McDanielCleveland City Board of Education meeting recapBradley County Commission meeting recapBradley Trustee's Office receives positive state audit for 2023-2024 fiscal yearDownload Mix 104.1 App for winter weather updatesTDOT preparing Tennessee Valley for possible winter weather this weekBonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Unveils 2025 LineupCohutta mobile home fire kills grandmother, mother, and young childrenCar crashes into Etowah Nutrition storeSerious car crash on Highway 153 Thursday eveningFood City in Cleveland celebrating Grand Opening of pharmacyTEMA holds media briefing to discuss winter storm preparationsRecent snowfall helps HCSO arrest wanted fugitive from GeorgiaCleveland State's Mark E. Smith Performance Center Grand Opening to be held on WednesdayMan arrested for shooting at family playing in snowBradley County Commission meeting recapSearch warrant reveals multiple containers of fentanyl, Sweetwater man arrestedCleveland City Council meeting recapOpponents of Governor Bill Lee's school voucher bill holding rally in Hamilton CountyWater main break shuts down part of Shallowford Rd. for 24-hoursLocal state senator coauthors bill to ban electronic devices in Tennessee classrooms46-year-old woman killed in crash on Apison PikeWoman & man found dead after shooting in Rhea Co. WednesdayLee University to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Bradley County School Board meeting recapCleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks delivers State of the City addressTwo TN lawmakers agree to sponsor bill to change state's statute of limitations on some privacy lawsPOST Commission approves deal allowing Grundy Co. Sheriff to keep certificationDalton man arrested after shooting at woman, SWAT standoffTrump taps former TN education commissioner Penny Schwinn as next US Deputy Secretary of EducationCPD investigates pedestrian killed on Highway 153; truck slams into TDOT vehicle on scene
2024
July
Cleveland State - Advanced Business ProgramThe Learning College - TCPSCleveland City Councilman Dale R. Hughes honored with title of ColonelTennessee’s tax-free weekend provides opportunity to save money on back-to-school shoppingBystanders pull Bradley County crash victim from car before it burst into flamesCrews battle two fires inside Dayton chemical packaging company SaturdayESC en Mezcla TV 08-02-24
August
UPDATE: THP identifies the driver whose car went into Parksville LakeLee’s Dr. Murray receives COG Distinguished Educator AwardCleveland City Schools & Bradley Co. Schools back-to-school schedulesBradley County Commission meeting recapCleveland City School Board meeting recapOoltewah home destroyed in early morning fireTennessee announced as first state to provide families with free diapers, amid new TennCare benefitPolk County residents concerned after picture showing decaying bridge pillar surfacesTwo Bradley Co. Schools educators nominated for TN Principal / Supervisor of the Year awardsSearch continues for missing juvenile in ClevelandCity of Cleveland announces revised hours for public pools for rest of seasonAll Bradley Co. Schools students eligible for free meals for 2024-25 school yearAthens drug best leads to arrest, seizure of drugs, guns, cash and explosivesUPDATE: Body found, believed to be missing Grundy Co. manTVA to upgrade technology and relocate operations system to Georgetown, TNInfant found dead in unattended car in Collegedale; father charged with reckless homicideBradley County Commission work session recapCleveland City Council meeting recapHCSO School Resource Deputy involved in head-on collision on Hwy. 58 in Meigs Co.Cleveland City Schools announces passing of longtime educator, Barbara EctorTN celebrating three consecutive months of record-low unemploymentDBJ Realty and J-&-S Restaurants, Inc. file lawsuit against new Food City on Highway 411 in Polk Co.Bradley County Commission meeting recapState of Tennessee begins issuing newly designed driver licenses & ID cardsUnemployment rates drop in a majority of Tennessee counties“RARE INCIDENT” Cleveland construction worker dies trapped 9 feet under trenchHigh School Football Schedules 2024UPDATE: TOSHA now investigating fatal trench collapseWalmart recalls apple juice sold in 25 states due to elevated arsenic levelsUPDATE: Man faces murder charge after woman's body found in Athens church fireCollegedale police arrest woman for using drugs with children in carUPDATE: All three victims dead after Cleveland house fireCyclist dies in crash on South Lee HighwayCleveland City Council meeting recapBradley County Commission meeting recapTVA plans to increase power rates to 5.25% this fallStudent arrested for carrying stolen, loaded handgun at Howard High SchoolAuto theft suspect arrested after police chase on Hwy 153; stolen car recoveredChancellor Jerri S. Bryant denies 10th Judicial District Attorney Elect Stephen Hatchett's petition to take office before term beginsCleveland State to receive GIVE grant from state8 school threats reported in first 3 weeks of school in Tennessee ValleyUPDATE: Chattanooga State Confirms Campus is SafeUPDATE: “Potential gunman” threatened to harm Chatt State students if payment not receivedManhunt underway for man who fired shots at deputiesSen. Blackburn questions DHS and ICE over losing track of 32,000 migrant children
September
Cleveland State to host free TEAS prep classUPDATE: One person injured, dog killed in Ooltewah-Georgetown Rd fire SaturdayI-75 Interstate shutdown after Tuesday morning crashTwo people killed, child injured in wrong-way crash on I-75 Tuesday morningEast Hamilton Middle School student arrested after bringing gun to schoolCleveland Bradley County Public Library receives Technology GrantCleveland City School Board meeting recapBradley County Commission meeting recap