A Claiborne County, Tennessee, sheriff’s deputy who fired his gun into traffic on Interstate 75 for no apparent reason has been sentenced to 11 months and 29 days unsupervised probation and a $2 fine after pleading guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment. Noah Arnwine must also perform community service and take a gun safety course. Arnwine and fellow Deputy Cody Lankford were returning from an inmate transport with Lankford driving when Arnwine pointed a gun towards the windshield of their vehicle and fired a shot into rush-hour traffic. Then assistant-chief deputy Mark Ellis, who investigated the matter, recommended Arnwine be fired and charged with a felony. Instead, Sheriff Bobby Brooks kept Arnwine on but later forced him out over a struggle with a jail inmate nine months later, just as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began an investigation of the gunshot.
Founded in 1968, Reason is the magazine of free minds and free markets. We produce hard-hitting independent journalism on civil liberties, politics, technology, culture, policy, and commerce. Reason exists outside of the left/right echo chamber. Our goal is to deliver fresh, unbiased information and insights to our readers, viewers, and listeners every day. Visit https://reason.com