Red Bank protesters rally to fire officer being investigated for police brutality

photo Anthony Joseph Lopez
photo Red Bank Police Chief Tim Christol

As Red Bank commissioners urged the public to vote in their upcoming election, a group of protesters gathered on the City Hall lawn to demand officials fire an officer involved in a police brutality investigation.

"No more bullies with badges," "Officer Kaylor has got to go," the signs read.

Concerned Citizens for Justice members organized the protest Tuesday after Red Bank Officer Mark Kaylor, who is under a probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, was allowed to return to work earlier this week.

Commissioners ignored the group comments that escalated to shouting, finger pointing at Police Chief Tim Christol and a woman in the audience being asked to leave.

"Somebody needs to get control and if you're not the leadership to do it, somebody else needs to do it," one resident said, turning and pointing at Christol.

After the meeting, Mayor John Roberts and others cited the investigation for why they couldn't speak. Christol said Kaylor is confined to a desk job until the TBI investigation is complete.

"We need to let the [TBI] do their investigation, then go from there," the chief said.

But local residents and the mother of one of the men beaten criticized police for what they called lax action in light of the brutality claims.

Kaylor is under investigation for an April arrest where a video shows the officer punching 24-year-old Candido Medina-Resendiz in the arm and face while other officers held him down, stun-gunned him and tried to handcuff him.

A second police report was recently found stating that Kaylor struck Anthony Lopez twice in the head during an August arrest that took the skin and hair off of Lopez's head.

Lopez's mother, Rachel, came from Fort Oglethorpe to ask the commissioners why Kaylor had been allowed to return to work. Because she wasn't a Red Bank resident she was asked to sit back down.

"I just wanted them to tell me why he is still on the force," Rachel Lopez said after the meeting. "Nobody seems to be talking about anything."

During the meeting, one resident spoke up in favor of the police.

"I think they are doing a fantastic job," the resident said.

But in the crowd, Janelle Jackson, a member of CCJ, interrupted.

"He had to get metal plates in his head," Jackson shouted. "I'm just saying your police beat people. Your police are not above par."

"Please leave right now, thank you ma'am," Roberts hollered after her.

Contact staff writer Joy Lukachick Smith at jsmith@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.

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