Officer Faces Federal Indictment
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The U.S. Attorney’s office in Memphis has announced the indictment of a West Tennessee Officer. According to a news release, a federal grand jury in Memphis has indicted a Ripley, Tennessee, police officer on federal civil rights and obstruction of justice charges. The indictment alleges that Stephen Michael Kirkpatrick, 47, used excessive force against a victim in 2011 and later attempted to corruptly persuade another person in an official proceeding. Court documents show Kirkpatrick was indicted on two counts of violating the victim‘s civil rights to be free from unreasonable seizure and the use of unreasonable force by a person acting under color of law and one count of obstruction of justice. The indictment alleges that on May 17, 2011, while acting under color of law, Kirkpatrick assaulted and choked an unnamed victim resulting in the victim suffering bodily injury. The obstruction count alleges that on or about May 24, 2011, Kirkpatrick knowingly attempted to corruptly persuade an unnamed person in an official proceeding. If convicted, Kirkpatrick faces a up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the civil rights counts and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the obstruction count. This case is being investigated by Special Agents from the Jackson Resident Agency of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti of the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Ryan MurguÃa of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
