Tennessee Open Records Act Request – September 20, 2022 Arrest of Tarius Sledge at East Ridge High School

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

I respectfully request access to and copies of all records pertaining to the arrest of Tarius Sledge on September 20, 2022, at East Ridge High School in East Ridge, Tennessee. Mr. Sledge, an 18-year-old student, was involved in an altercation with School Resource Deputy (SRD) Tyler McRae during a gym class session. The incident escalated when Mr. Sledge allegedly refused to comply with instructions, leading to a physical confrontation that included SRD McRae pulling Mr. Sledge by his hair and deploying pepper spray. This event was partially captured on video, which subsequently circulated widely on social media platforms.

I am seeking the following records related to this incident:

All available body-worn camera footage from SRD Tyler McRae and any other officers present during the incident, including the entirety of the interaction with Mr. Sledge.
All available surveillance footage from East Ridge High School's gymnasium and surrounding areas capturing the incident.
The complete incident and arrest reports, including all officer narratives, supplemental reports, and witness statements from school staff, students, and other individuals present.
All 911 call recordings and dispatch logs related to this incident, including radio communications and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) reports.
Any photographs taken by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office during or after the incident, including images of Mr. Sledge, the involved officers, and the location of the altercation.
The full arrest affidavits and any related charging documents filed in this case.
Any internal reviews, use-of-force reports, or investigations conducted by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office regarding this incident.
Any press releases, social media posts, or official statements made by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office or East Ridge High School regarding this incident.
The primary goal of this request is to serve the public interest by making these records publicly accessible. While I acknowledge that I may also generate revenue from disseminating these materials, the request primarily aims to enhance transparency regarding this law enforcement incident.

I request a waiver of fees associated with fulfilling this request, as disclosure of the requested information will contribute to public understanding of law enforcement practices and actions within educational settings. However, if a full fee waiver is not possible, please inform me of the estimated costs in advance. Additionally, if fees can be reduced or eliminated by excluding certain records, please specify which records those would be.

Please provide the records in an electronic format if available. If any portions of this request are denied, please cite the specific legal exemption(s) and provide a redacted version of the document where applicable.

I appreciate your time and assistance in this matter.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Kent Hoover, a citizen of Tennessee, in coordination with Police Cam News.