A Tennessee police officer was fired after photographs of him allegedly chocking a college student were published online by a British newspaper.
The photos, published Sunday in the Daily Mail, show what is said to be Knox County officer Frank Phillips, 47, with his hands around the neck of a 21-year-old college student as he was being arrested on Saturday. The student, Jarod Dotson, was not showing signs of resisting the other officers as they handcuffed him, but Phillips remained with his hands around Dotson's neck, and apparently squeezed until Dotson was unconscious.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office determined the officer used excessive force during Dotson's arrest at an unruly party near the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
"In my 34 years of law enforcement experience, excessive force has never been tolerated," Sheriff Jimmy 'J.J.' Jones said in a statement, according to the Daily Mail. "After an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards, I believe excessive force was used in this incident.
"Therefore, Officer Phillips' employment with the Knox County Sheriff's Office is terminated immediately."
Dotson was arrested for drinking alcohol outdoors at 23rd Street and Laurel Avenue, police said. He disregarded "repeated instructions" to go inside and "began to physically resist officers' instructions to place his hands behind his back," according to the police report obtained by the newspaper.
John Messner, a Knoxville freelance photographer, captured the images of the incident. One image shows Dotson standing with Phillips gripping his neck. Another shows Dotson's knees buckle as he succumbs to the pressure applied by the officer's hands.
As Dotson fell unconscious, the arresting officers picked him up and Phillips slapped him several times on the head, Messner told the newspaper.
Dotson was charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest. He was released Sunday after posting $500 bond, the newspaper reported.
