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The physique of a lacking Meigs County, Tennessee, sheriff’s deputy has been discovered, officers mentioned Thursday, hours after his patrol car was pulled from the Tennessee River with the physique of one other individual inside.
Deputy Robert “R.J.” Leonard was final heard from Wednesday evening shortly after he arrested somebody and was on his method to the jail. His patrol automobile was pulled Thursday from the water within the space of the Blythe Ferry boat ramp, District Legal professional Normal Russell Johnson mentioned at a information convention Thursday afternoon.
The car was discovered the other way up with the trunk blown open by the strain. A feminine physique coated in “a number of mud” was found within the again seat, Johnson mentioned.
Johnson mentioned officers imagine the physique is that of an individual whom Leonard had arrested and was taking to the jail when he was final heard from, although that has not been confirmed. She has not been recognized.
Nobody was discovered within the entrance seat, and the driving force’s aspect window was rolled down. Leonard’s physique was later discovered and his stays have been being dropped at the Knoxville Regional Medical Examiner’s Workplace, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned Thursday evening.
Extra particulars about the place and the way his stays have been discovered haven’t been launched.
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett prolonged his prayers and condolences Thursday to the households of the deputy and the individual discovered within the car.
Leonard responded Wednesday evening to a potential dysfunction on the bridge over the Tennessee River. He arrived and informed dispatchers round 9:50 p.m. that he was taking an individual to the Meigs County Jail, Johnson mentioned Thursday morning.
The following and final time dispatchers heard from Leonard was 12 minutes later. He mentioned one thing over the radio that would not instantly be understood. Analytics later decided Leonard might have mentioned the phrase “water,” Johnson mentioned.
Across the time he radioed in, Leonard additionally texted his spouse one phrase: “arrest,” Johnson mentioned, noting that the arrest was his first. She responded, however officers confirmed her textual content didn’t undergo. Her Life360 location-sharing app would later assist investigators decide his final identified location.
After Leonard failed to answer a dispatch standing examine, companies from round Meigs County joined to help search efforts.
“We’re working beneath the speculation that it was an accident, he missed his flip, he wasn’t acquainted, and he was doing different issues that will have triggered him to enter the water,” Johnson mentioned Thursday afternoon. “There’s some skid marks and a few scratch marks, too. So there’s some indication that he was on the brakes a minimum of making an attempt to cease.”
Chief Deputy Brian Malone mentioned tearfully Thursday afternoon: “It is a laborious time for us right here. It is one thing we by no means take care of right here in Meigs County. Deputy Leonard had solely been right here for a pair months, however he’d turn into a part of our household. At the moment, I simply ask that you simply pray for us.”
This text was initially printed on NBCNews.com
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