Rutherford Co. Sheriff: Deputy Did Nothing Wrong in Controversial DUI Checkpoint - John Dunn
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold says deputy A.J. Ross did nothing wrong during a controversial sobriety checkpoint. The video of the incident has nearly four million views on YouTube. It did surprise me how it went viral the way it did, says Sheriff Arnold. Sheriff Arnold has carefully reviewed the July 4th sobriety checkpoint stop. The driver, 21 year old Chris Kalbaugh, posted the video and claims his rights were violated. Kalbaugh is a member of the Libertarian Party of Tennessee.Sheriff Arnold says deputy A.J. Ross had the right to stop and question Kalbaugh because of his behavior. He kept doing things to try to raise the suspicion level of the officers and so therefore they had to check him out, says Sheriff Arnold. The video has been viewed across the globe, and has prompted intimidating phone calls to Rutherford County dispatchers. FOX 17 News obtained several of the phone calls.I'd like to be transferred to somebody I can speak with 'cause at this point I am highly pissed off, says one caller.I mean that's unconstitutional, and if that's the case, if it's gonna continue to happen, the militias need to be sent there, says another caller.You guys are all f*#@$. I don't even live in your country so go f#*@ yourselves, says a third caller.That has taken a very big toll on them to the point where we've had dispatchers leave out of here at the end of their shift just in tears, says Sheriff Arnold.Sheriff Arnold says he also received a threat, and he now has additional security protecting his family. I get a phone call that tells me that if I do not fire A.J., that they are gonna come cut my childrens' heads off, says Sheriff Arnold.Putting the threats aside, the Sheriff says his deputy protected the driver's rights, but also had a responsibility to do his job.The threatening calls to the sheriff's office have begun to taper off, but officers are still on alert. The Sheriff says many of the calls were made on untraceable phones. For news updates follow John Dunn on twitter @WZTVJohnDunn _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WZTV on Facebook: / foxnashville WZTV on Twitter: / foxnashville Subscribe to WZTV on YouTube: / @fox17nashville Daily News Playlist: • Playlist For more information, visit https://fox17.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 615.369.1717 Fox 17 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for Nashville and nearby towns and communities in Middle Tennessee, including Forest Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Dickson, Clarksville, White House, Greenbrier, Springfield, Gallatin, Hartsville, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, College Grove, Thompson’s Station, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Lewisburg, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, Cookeville, Hohenwald, Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lafayette, Portland, and in Kentucky, Russelville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Alvaton, Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Glasgow. #WZTV #fox17news #foxnashville
