University of Tennessee police close investigation into arrest of Yassin Terou

The University of Tennessee Police Department has closed its investigation into the treatment of local business owner Yassin Terou during his arrest on May 15, finding no evidence of violations of policy or code of conduct.

The investigation was prompted by a complaint Terou filed with the UTPD two days after his arrest, claiming that an officer tightened his handcuffs after he complained of nerve damage and denied him medical attention.

Terou is a Syrian refugee who became an American citizen in 2020 and the well-known owner of Yassin’s Falafel House restaurant in Knoxville.

Lt. Dale Wolf, serving as an internal affairs investigator, interviewed the officers involved and reviewed body camera footage of the incident. The internal affairs investigation found no evidence of improper treatment, including denial of medical care or excessive use of force.

Ten other pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested along with Terou for trespassing after they demonstrated on the lawn of the UT College of Law, violating campus rules. During the arrest and Terrou’s hospitalization, the restaurant owner claimed:

That Lt. Brian Greenlee tightened his handcuffs after he asked for medical help. (According to UTPD, body cameras show Greenlee did not touch Terou.)
That Terou had asked officers to remove his rain poncho, but they did not. (That’s true, UTPD officers said, because their priority was attending to arrestees. Corporal Jeffrey Quirin, who called dispatch to request an AMR ambulance for Terou, later removed his poncho at UTPD.)
That Terou did not receive medical treatment for 45 minutes after his arrest. (That’s true, UTPD officials said, although they requested an ambulance shortly after being notified of Terou’s condition.)
That Officer Steven Murphy spoke with a nurse at the hospital about Terou’s private medical information. (Murphy denied the allegation and said the conversation was not medical. No evidence was found to support this claim.)
That Murphy removed the sling without medical assistance to take him back into custody. (This is true, although Murphy said a nurse told him the sling was “not medically necessary.”)
That Terou was temporarily paralyzed due to nerve damage related to the arrest. (The UTPD says body camera footage shows him moving his wrist and hand throughout the incident.)

Terou and his attorney, Loretta Cravens, were not immediately available for comment.

Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focusing on technology and energy. Phone: 423-637-0878. Email: [email protected].

Support strong local journalism by signing up at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Related Posts

Colorado Springs Fire Department responds to traffic accident at corner of Uintah and 20th St.

Investigations into shooting near Savannah Harbor underway

The Catholic Church is blocking a sex abuse investigation, Washington’s attorney general says