Officer Cleared On Pulling Gun On Innocent Black Lady For Changing License Plate On Car She Purchased.

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The Knoxville Police Department’s investigation into the off-duty officer who held Tonya Jameson at gunpoint while she was changing a license plate last month found the actions of Officer Matthew Janish “were lawful and proper,” according to a city statement released Tuesday.

“In this case, even though he was off duty, the investigation showed that Officer Janish acted within the bounds of his training and appropriate police work in investigating a situation that appeared suspicious to him,” reads a statement from Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero.

“Any of us can imagine what it would be like to be alone in an unfamiliar area, having done nothing wrong, and suddenly be confronted by a man with a gun,” Rogero’s statement continues. “Ms. Jameson had a terrible experience, and she was understandably upset by it.”

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch flew to North Carolina on Tuesday to “meet with (Jameson) to explain the situation, to explain the results of the investigation, and to allow Ms. Jameson the opportunity to ask questions,” said KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

Carol Scott, former executive director of Knoxville’s Police Advisory and Review Committee, joined Rausch to meet with Jameson. PARC will review the findings of KPD’s investigation into Jameson’s complaint, as per protocol.

Jameson said in an interview Tuesday that she was disappointed but not surprised by KPD’s findings. She said Rausch was “cordial” and “seemed straight-up,” but criticized law enforcement by saying, “It’s really on us (citizens) to deescalate the situation, and that’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

Jameson, a 45-year-old black woman from Charlotte, N.C., alleged in her May 8 complaint that Janish exhibited poor judgment, used excessive force and unlawfully detained her by holding her at gunpoint.

Jameson purchased an SUV from Janish’s mother-in-law on April 28 and traveled to Jefferson City to pick up the vehicle on May 3. She arrived in an unmarked taxi. Janish’s mother-in-law wasn’t home, but “she knew I was coming,” Jameson said.

Jameson was unscrewing the license plate with a screwdriver when she heard Janish behind her, announcing himself as an off-duty police officer.

Janish, who’s been with KPD since 2006 and lives across the street from his mother-in-law, trained a gun on Jameson and called Jefferson County E-911.

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