The police car of a Tennessee lawmaker who went missing after his arrest was found underwater, and his body has been recovered.
This was announced by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in Tennessee. Facebook The post said the body of Deputy Robert “RJ” Leonard, 35, was found Thursday night.
“His body is currently being escorted to the Knoxville Area Medical Examiner’s Office by HCSO, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Chattanooga Police Department task forces,” police said in a statement.
Tennessee Vice President’s murder suspect appears in court
The police cruiser was found in the Hiawassee River in Tennessee. (U.S. Forest Service)
Meigs County District Attorney Russell Johnson said Leonard, a rookie, responded to a report of a man and woman fighting on a bridge just before 10 p.m. Wednesday and took the woman into custody.
Authorities began searching the deputy after he failed to comply with a background check.
Johnson said one of his last communications with Leonard was a text message to his wife telling him to “arrest him.”
“My wife texted me and said, ‘That was great,’ and ‘That’s great,'” Johnson said at a press conference. “We know that obviously his cell phone didn’t receive that text.”
Meigs County District Attorney Russell Johnson attended a press conference on Thursday, February 15th. (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office)
Early Thursday morning, authorities made the surprising discovery of Leonard’s patrol car upside down in the Hiawassee River.
Police found the woman’s body in the back seat of a patrol car. Police believe the body is that of the person arrested.
Tennessee fugitive arrested on suspicion of murdering deputy after days of manhunt, sheriff says
Multiple agencies are investigating how the vehicle ended up in the water.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a news conference Thursday that he believed it was an accident.
Johnson said a preliminary report indicated the deputy appeared to be texting and radioing while driving in a poorly lit area.
“We’re acting on the theory that it was an accident. He missed his turn, he wasn’t used to it and he did other things that could have caused him to go into the water,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference. ” .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Officials said the 35-year-old deputy lived nearby with his wife and three children.
“Deputy Leonard had been on the force for about two months,” said Meigs County Sheriff Jackie Melton. “He did a very good job. A really good job. When a department is like a family, it’s tough.”
