Harriman's acting police chief Kenneth Humphrey has been accused of misdemeanor assault after Oak Ridge police officers said he was drunk at a bar when he accused two men of being gang members and assaulted one of them in a parking lot.
On June 30 around 11 p.m., officers were called to Swifty's Bar and Grill on Illinois Avenue. Two men, Joshua Bridges and Chance Mullins, told police Humphrey, 43, was at the bar and was "highly intoxicated" and assaulted Bridges, according to an affidavit.
The complaint, which was filed on July 2, states Humphrey yelled at and berated the two men for wearing "biker" clothing. Bridges told officers Humphrey accused him and Mullins of being gang members and tried to get him to fight him int he parking lot.
Bridges said he refused to fight Humphrey. The report states Mullins gave a video to police of Humphrey prior to the alleged assault which reportedly showed he was intoxicated and attempting to get Bridges to fight him in the parking lot.
According to the report, Bridges told police Humphrey grabbed him by the neck and injured him. In the report, police said Bridges had red skin and fresh bruising on his left collar bone and neck that were consistent with that type of an assault.
The report states Bridges knew who Humphrey was because Humphrey identified himself as the Chief of Police of the Harriman Police Department by flashing his badge and identification inside the bar.
Swifty's Bar and Grill owner and bartender, Matt Swifty, told police Humphrey was at the bar, was intoxicated, and was escorted from the establishment by him.
Humphrey waived his indictment on July 11. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 4, 2018.
Humphrey has been with the Harriman Police Department for twelve years. He most recently served as assistant chief before taking over as acting chief in April. Derek Pacifico resigned April 22.
