Latest news with #GaretDavidson
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nashville Police whistleblower indicted in Covenant School shooting document leak
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has indicted former Metro Nashville Police lieutenant and police misconduct whistleblower Garet Davidson on one count of theft, two counts of burglary and more than 30 counts of official misconduct. The charges come after Davidson allegedly gained access to restricted files, including those tied to the Covenant School investigation. TBI investigated at the request of Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk. Davidson's attorney Alex Little did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. Two indictments were handed down in the case. In the first, Davidson is charged with six counts of official misconduct related to leaking Covenant School shooting materials. In the six count indictment, obtained by The Tennessean, Davidson is alleged to have intentionally or knowingly harmed victims of the March 27, 2023 Covenant School shooting by leaking documents related to the case on or around Nov. 20, 2023. Count six alleges Davidson benefitted or received benefits from releasing documents related to the Covenant School shooting. In the other indictment, Davidson is charged with one count theft of property, two counts of burglary and 29 counts of official misconduct. He is accused in the indictment of obtaining non-public internal investigative files from the department's Office of Professional Accountability, MNPD's internal investigative review branch. "During the course of the investigation, agents discovered that Davidson, while employed as a lieutenant of the Office of Professional Accountability at the Metro Nashville Police Department, used his position to gain access to restricted areas that he was not authorized to access within MNPD. He then took multiple criminal case files, internal investigation case files, original case files, and other documents he was not authorized to retain," TBI said in a statement via email. Davidson, 38, was arrested May 6 in Portland. He was taken to the Davidson County Jail and being held on a $150,000 bond. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Former Nashville lieutenant, whistleblower charged in Covenant leak
Axios
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Former Nashville police lieutenant indicted for charges related to Covenant records leak
A former Nashville police lieutenant was indicted Tuesday on charges of official misconduct related to his handling of records from the Covenant School shooting investigation. Driving the news: Former Lt. Garet Davidson is the subject of two indictments, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday in a press release. A legal filing last year indicated Davidson was the person who leaked sealed records related to the Covenant investigation, but the filing stopped short of overtly accusing him. In total, Davidson is charged with 36 counts of official misconduct, plus additional charges for theft and burglary. He was booked into a Nashville jail on Tuesday on a $150,000 bond. Flashback: Davidson is at the center of two separate high-profile issues facing the Metro Nashville Police Department. In addition to the Covenant records leak, he filed a sweeping whistleblower report last year accusing police leadership of misconduct and mismanagement. Mayor Freddie O'Connell appointed former U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton to investigate the claims made in the whistleblower report. The TBI said it began investigating Davidson at the request of District Attorney General Glenn Funk. Zoom in:"While employed as a lieutenant of the Office of Professional Accountability at (MNPD), (Davidson) used his position to gain access to restricted areas that he was not authorized to access within MNPD," TBI said in the release. "He then took multiple criminal case files, internal investigation case files, original case files, and other documents he was not authorized to retain." The intrigue: The official release of the Covenant records investigation file was the subject of intense scrutiny and eventually a lawsuit. Before Chancellor I'Ashea Myles ruled in that suit, parts of the investigation file were leaked to conservative outlet the Tennessee Star. A sworn declaration filed by Lt. Alfredo Arevalo last year singled out Davidson, Axios previously reported, noting that the investigation file was stored in the safe inside Davidson's office for 13 days. Davidson was the only person who had the key and combination to the locked safe during that time, according to Arevalo. Davidson subsequently left the department and frequently did interviews with the Tennessee Star about the Covenant case. Earlier this year, police released the case file.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- The Independent
An ex-police officer implicated in leak of a Nashville school shooter's journals has been arrested
A former Nashville police lieutenant was arrested Tuesday on charges of theft, burglary and official misconduct after he was accused of taking case files, including records from a school shooting where three 9-year-olds and three adult staff were killed. In announcing the arrest of Garet Davidson, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he used his position with the Office of Professional Accountability at the Metro Nashville Police Department to gain access to restricted areas. 'He then took multiple criminal case files, internal investigation case files, original case files, and other documents he was not authorized to retain,' according to a TBI news release. Davidson was booked into the Nashville jail on a $150,000 bond. Davidson's attorney, Alex Little, said he would have a statement about the arrest later on Tuesday. Some of the charges are related to the March 2023 Covenant School shooting, according to the TBI. Davidson was previously implicated in the leak of the shooter's journals to conservative media outlets. The Tennessee Star published dozens of stories based on what they said were 80 pages of the shooter's writings. That outlet was one of several parties that had filed open records requests with Nashville police for records related to the shooting, including the journals. When the city refused to immediately release the records in 2023, they sued. The plaintiffs included a gun rights group, a law enforcement nonprofit and Tennessee State Sen. Todd Gardenhire. On the other side was not just the city, but parents of many of the Covenant students who wanted to keep the records secret. The situation quickly ballooned into a messy mix of conspiracy theories, leaked documents, probate battles and accusations of ethical misconduct. In July, a judge ruled for the parents, who claimed they own the copyright to the writings, transferred to them from the shooter's parents as next of kin. That decision is currently under appeal. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation last month provided Tennessee Star owner, Star News Digital, with a redacted version of its Covenant shooting files in response to a separate lawsuit. In a federal court filing, the FBI said it withheld names and identifying information of third parties and detailed descriptions of the shooter's plans. Also last month, Nashville police released a final report on the shooting that included details about the shooter's writings, mental health and motivations. Those killed in the shooting were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. Shooter Audrey Hale was shot and killed by police at the scene.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
An ex-police officer implicated in leak of a Nashville school shooter's journals has been arrested
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former Nashville police lieutenant was arrested Tuesday on charges of theft, burglary and official misconduct after he was accused of taking case files, including records from a school shooting where three 9-year-olds and three adult staff were killed. In announcing the arrest of Garet Davidson, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he used his position with the Office of Professional Accountability at the Metro Nashville Police Department to gain access to restricted areas. 'He then took multiple criminal case files, internal investigation case files, original case files, and other documents he was not authorized to retain,' according to a TBI news release. Davidson was booked into the Nashville jail on a $150,000 bond. Davidson's attorney, Alex Little, said he would have a statement about the arrest later on Tuesday. FILE - People console each other at an entry to Covenant School, March 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn., which has become a memorial to the victims of Monday's school shooting. (AP Photo/John Amis, file) Some of the charges are related to the March 2023 Covenant School shooting, according to the TBI. Davidson was previously implicated in the leak of the shooter's journals to conservative media outlets. The Tennessee Star published dozens of stories based on what they said were 80 pages of the shooter's writings. That outlet was one of several parties that had filed open records requests with Nashville police for records related to the shooting, including the journals. When the city refused to immediately release the records in 2023, they sued. The plaintiffs included a gun rights group, a law enforcement nonprofit and Tennessee State Sen. Todd Gardenhire. On the other side was not just the city, but parents of many of the Covenant students who wanted to keep the records secret. The situation quickly ballooned into a messy mix of conspiracy theories, leaked documents, probate battles and accusations of ethical misconduct. In July, a judge ruled for the parents, who claimed they own the copyright to the writings, transferred to them from the shooter's parents as next of kin. That decision is currently under appeal. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation last month provided Tennessee Star owner, Star News Digital, with a redacted version of its Covenant shooting files in response to a separate lawsuit. In a federal court filing, the FBI said it withheld names and identifying information of third parties and detailed descriptions of the shooter's plans. Also last month, Nashville police released a final report on the shooting that included details about the shooter's writings, mental health and motivations. Those killed in the shooting were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. Shooter Audrey Hale was shot and killed by police at the scene.
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Associated Press
An ex-police officer implicated in leak of a Nashville school shooter's journals has been arrested
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former Nashville police lieutenant was arrested Tuesday on charges of theft, burglary and official misconduct after he was accused of taking case files, including records from a school shooting where three 9-year-olds and three adult staff were killed. In announcing the arrest of Garet Davidson , the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he used his position with the Office of Professional Accountability at the Metro Nashville Police Department to gain access to restricted areas. 'He then took multiple criminal case files, internal investigation case files, original case files, and other documents he was not authorized to retain,' according to a TBI news release. Davidson was booked into the Nashville jail on a $150,000 bond. Davidson's attorney, Alex Little, said he would have a statement about the arrest later on Tuesday. Some of the charges are related to the March 2023 Covenant School shooting , according to the TBI. Davidson was previously implicated in the leak of the shooter's journals to conservative media outlets. The Tennessee Star published dozens of stories based on what they said were 80 pages of the shooter's writings. That outlet was one of several parties that had filed open records requests with Nashville police for records related to the shooting, including the journals. When the city refused to immediately release the records in 2023, they sued. The plaintiffs included a gun rights group, a law enforcement nonprofit and Tennessee State Sen. Todd Gardenhire. On the other side was not just the city, but parents of many of the Covenant students who wanted to keep the records secret. The situation quickly ballooned into a messy mix of conspiracy theories, leaked documents , probate battles and accusations of ethical misconduct . In July, a judge ruled for the parents , who claimed they own the copyright to the writings, transferred to them from the shooter's parents as next of kin. That decision is currently under appeal. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation last month provided Tennessee Star owner, Star News Digital, with a redacted version of its Covenant shooting files in response to a separate lawsuit. In a federal court filing, the FBI said it withheld names and identifying information of third parties and detailed descriptions of the shooter's plans. Also last month, Nashville police released a final report on the shooting that included details about the shooter's writings, mental health and motivations. Those killed in the shooting were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. Shooter Audrey Hale was shot and killed by police at the scene.
