KNOXVILLE, Tenn — The Knox County Sheriff's Office is conducting an internal review of the way deputies handled an interaction with a Starbucks manager last month, Sheriff Tom Spangler said in a statement.
The manager, Nashon M. Bain-Greenidge, 29, ended up being charged with several misdemeanors including assault on a first responder as a result of the Oct. 21 episode at the store at 329 N. Cedar Bluff Road, records show.
But Knox County prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges Nov. 21 in Knox County General Sessions Court.
WBIR then requested to view bodycam of the deputies to see what happened between them and Bain-Greenidge.
KCSO spokeswoman Kimberly Glenn said it's not available, however, because it's part of an ongoing Office of Professional Standards review. That investigation could take a couple to several weeks.
One of the deputies in that encounter also is now recuperating in the hospital. Wyatt Brown was badly injured in a crash during a chase Nov. 20 on McKamey Road.
Brown is a recent graduate of the KCSO's Regional Training Academy.
Deputy Travis Field also responded to the Starbucks.
Sheriff Tom Spangler said in a statement that deputies last month were looking into a domestic dispute potentially involving two guns at the store.
"During the investigation of the domestic situation, an unrelated incident occurred between Officers and one employee of Starbucks," Spangler wrote. "Subsequently, the Starbucks employee was arrested on charges unrelated to the domestic situation."
The Office of Professional Standards became aware of the incident Nov. 2. With the misdemeanor charges dropped against Bain-Greenidge, the office will interview those involved to evaluate if any deputy failed to follow standard orders and policies.
"Before the completion and in an effort not to hinder the process, I will not discuss the incident nor make any comments. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will be available," Spangler said in his statement.
According to a warrant prepared by Brown, as the deputies worked the scene Bain-Greenidge repeatedly asked questions about what was happening. Officers told him to "go back inside."
The manager objected.
"(He) eventually walked back inside but after he entered the Starbucks, he continued to argue with officers outside, so I instructed him to go back to work, when I observed him make a fist with his left hand.
"After observing the fist, I quickly grabbed his wrist and elbow in an attempt to control his arm. Officer Field attempted to grab his right wrist and elbow, but (Bain-Greenidge) grabbed the push bar on the door and actively resisted by not letting go and refusing to listen to commands.
"A struggle with the arrestee ensued and eventually he, Officer Field and myself exited through the door. After exiting, myself and Officer Field attempted to escort the arrestee to the ground when he kicked Officer Field on his right knee, causing discomfort," the now dismissed assault warrant states.
Deputies ultimately took Bain-Greenidge to a patrol vehicle.
"Medical assistance was summoned to the scene where he was cleared and where he refused further medical treatment," the warrant states.
