Detective dodges questions about allegations made during rape investigation
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) - The Chattanooga police officer at the center of a TBI criminal investigation appeared in court Friday.
Detective Karl Fields was in court, testifying as the lead investigator in Cordalro Strickland's murder case. But most of the questions revolved around the criminal investigation into the detective, prompting Fields to plead the Fifth Amendment over 15 times.
Fields was put on administrative leave last month, following allegations of inappropriate contact with a woman who filed a rape report.
There were questions whether or not the detective could testify in the upcoming murder trial while he was under a criminal probe himself. On Friday, attorneys argued whether or not a jury could hear the most recent allegations against the police officer.
"I'm currently on administrative leave," Fields said.
"Why are you on administrative leave?" asked Strickland's attorney, Brandy Spurgin.
"Undergoing investigation by internal affairs and TBI," Fields replied.
The legal fallout is crossing over into some of the cases Fields worked, namely Strickland's, who is charged with first degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of Melvin Fennell.
Fields answered questions about the case, but he was also grilled about his inappropriate contact with the alleged rape victim.
"Did you joke with another officer that videos in that case were YouTube material?" Spurgin asked.
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Detective dodges questions about allegations made during rape investigation