A former law enforcement officer in Chattanooga, Tennessee was sentenced Friday to six years in prison, according to federal officials.
Anthony “Tony” Bean, 62, was convicted of using excessive force against arrestee C.G. on two occasions during C.G.’s arrest in 2014, while he was the chief of the Tracy City Police Department in Tracy City, Tennessee.
In addition, the jury found Bean guilty of using excessive force against arrestee F.M. during F.M.’s arrest in 2017, while he was the chief deputy of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office in Grundy County, Tennessee.
In June 2021, the evidence indicated that over the course of three days that showed that, during C.G.’s arrest in the Tracy Lakes area of Grundy County in 2014, Bean repeatedly punched C.G. in the face while C.G. was handcuffed and compliant, causing C.G. pain and other injuries.
The court also heard evidence that, during F.M.’s arrest Grundy County in 2017, Bean punched F.M. in the face while F.M. was compliant, causing pain and other injuries.
The court also heard evidence that Bean bragged about using excessive force against victims and failed to report his uses of force.
“Law enforcement officers who violate victims’ civil rights also violate the trust of their communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable those officers who abuse their authority.”
“Nobody is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Hamilton. “The defendant, Anthony “Tony” Bean abused his authority and violated the civil rights of arrestees by physically assaulting them while they were restrained and not posing any threat. A sentence of 72 months sends a strong message to the community that the abuse of arrestees will not be tolerated, and law enforcement officers who break the law will be held accountable for their actions.”
The FBI Knoxville Field Division investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kathryn E. Gilbert and Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S Attorney James Brooks for the Eastern District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.