Tag: police brutality

Nashville Sheriff Corporal BJ Hayes charged after punching & strangling inmate

Jason Steen

31-year-old Bryson ‘BJ’ Hayes, who is a Corporal at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, was jailed Monday on an outstanding felony warrant charging him with the felony aggravated assault and strangulation of an inmate in December. DCSO Investigators turned over video surveillance of the incident to Metro Nashville Police Detectives earlier this year. Police say the video clearly shows an inmate spitting on Hayws on two separate occasions. After the second occasion, Hayes begins to punch the inmate with a closed fist and throws him to the ground, where he places him in a chokehold restraint position. The victim told investigators he had trouble breathing while being restrained with the officer’s hands around his neck. During an interview, Hayes admitted to strangling the inmate and agreed he used unapproved tactics in response to the situation. Police interviewed multiple employees who also witnessed the incident.  

DCSO Officer beats homeless with baton, who spit on him during Walmart altercation. The homeless man is charged with assault.

Jason Steen

36-year-old Anthony Archer was causing a disturbance at a West Nashville Walmart when of-duty DCSO/Nashville Sheriff Officer Robert Lillard Jr, who was working a secondary security job there, asked him to leave. He says Archer became aggressive and “balled up his fists”, and even spit on him, at which time Lillard says he pulled out his baton in self-defense and began striking him with it. Archer escaped the altercation and fled the store. He was found two days later, trespassing, and was arrested on the outstanding warrant. He remains jailed on a $3,100 bond.