According to a press release by the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office, no charges will be filed against the East Ridge police lieutenant involved in the August 19, 2015 fatal shooting of Todd Browning.
An investigation conducted by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office found use of deadly force by Lt. Daniel Stephenson was justified under T.C.A. § 39-11-620 for the following reasons:
(1) Lt. Stephenson was wearing an ERPD uniform and operating a marked patrol car, which clearly identified him as a police officer.
(2) Lt. Stephenson exhausted all reasonable means to apprehend Browning through a lengthy negotiation and repetitive commands prior to the use of deadly force.
(3) Lt. Stephenson had probable cause to believe Browning posed a threat of serious bodily injury or death as Browning approached with a water main key while yelling that Lt. Stephenson would have to kill him or else he would kill Lt. Stephenson.
After a review of the investigation, District Attorney General Neal Pinkston has determined Lt. Stephenson acted well within the law and, as a result, should not face any charges.
Lt. Stephenson’s dash cam video of the incident can be found at the following link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
