TBI TO PROBE ALLEGED MISUSE OF DRUG FUND BY DEPUTY

District Attorney General James N. Ramsey has asked the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation to look into allegations of misappropriation of drug fund
money by a former Anderson County Sheriff's Department assistant chief deputy.

Sheriff Bill White said Thursday he met with Ramsey about an internal
investigation into incidents that involved Brian Smith, an assistant chief
deputy under Scott Manning.

Smith, currently a patrol deputy, was suspended without pay earlier this
month after White learned of possible misdeeds.

White said Sgt. Bill Breeding had been doing the internal investigation
into the alleged misuse of drug fund money and Thursday discussed the
matter with Ramsey.

"The TBI will conduct the criminal investigation," White said. He said
Breeding will continue the internal investigation because of other
allegations of Sheriff's Department policy violations.

White said he could not comment further on the investigation.

Smith moved to a patrol position at the Sheriff's Department when White
took office in September. He filed a grievance the Civil Service Board
after being "demoted without cause, taking a cut in pay and being forced to
take compensatory time."

White said he had talked to Smith and his attorney before discussing the
allegations with Ramsey.