Knoxville officers still on leave weeks after Lisa Edwards' death as family hire attorney

More than six weeks after a 60-year-old woman collapsed in Knoxville police custody and community members expressed outrage over how officers treated her, the men who arrested Lisa Edwards are still on paid leave.

As the Knoxville Police Department's internal investigation continues, Edwards' family has hired a high-profile civil rights attorney versed in in-custody death lawsuits. Devon Jacob was a member of the legal team representing the estate of George Floyd, whose 2020 death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers set off a national police reform movement.

Jacob received the Leonard Weinglass in Defense of Civil Liberties Award from the American Association for Justice for his work in the Floyd case, which resulted in a $27 million settlement. Jacob, a former police officer, is an member of the National Police Accountability Project.

As Edwards' family explores its legal options, the Knoxville Police Department won't estimate when its internal investigation will be complete.

"The IA investigation into Lisa Edwards' death is still ongoing," spokesman Scott Erland said. "Once that is complete, we will make a public announcement and the case file immediately available."

Sgt. Brandon Wardlaw, officer Adam Barnett, officer Timothy Distasio and transportation officer Danny Dugan remain on paid leave, Erland confirmed.

Local law enforcement leaders, including Police Chief Paul Noel and Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen, sharply criticized the officers for their lack of compassion as Edwards begged for medical help. The death drew national media attention and calls for the officers to be reprimanded.

On Feb. 5, Lisa Edwards was arrested for trespassing outside For Sanders Regional Medical Center after she was discharged from doctors' care. She suffered a fatal stroke in the back of a police cruiser and died the next day.

The way Knoxville police officers and hospital security staff treated the 60-year-old woman drew immediate condemnation after body cam and dashcam footage was released.

Edwards' family declined to comment this week, referring questions to Jacob.

Why had Lisa Edwards flown to Knoxville on Feb. 4?

Edwards, her daughter-in-law August Boylan told Knox News, was a longtime resident of Knoxville who in 2018 decided she wanted to be closer to her sons and grandchildren and moved to Rhode Island.

Edwards initially lived with family but had a stroke in August 2019 and moved into a nursing home. Eventually, Edwards decided to move back to Knoxville, where she was going to live with a friend.

After Edwards arrived at the Knoxville airport, she was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital for complaints of abdominal pain. She was discharged and then went to Fort Sanders Medical Center the same day, where she was evaluated and discharged the next morning.

A timeline of the law enforcement response

Edwards was arrested after hospital security staff called police and told them she declined to move off the property after she was discharged.

Body cam footage shows the first KPD officer arrived just before 8 a.m., about an hour after Edwards was discharged from the hospital. Edwards told the officer she had a stroke and couldn’t walk, but his response was that the hospital wanted her gone and he was taking her to jail.

The officer told Edwards if she wouldn't leave, she would be charged with trespassing. A jail transport van was called and officers and the driver physically struggled for 30 minutes to get Edwards into the side compartment of the van, leaving her slumped on the sidewalk.

Edwards repeatedly said she couldn't breathe or stand, but officers and security staff responded by saying she had been medically discharged and was fine. The police eventually decided to take her to jail in a regular police cruiser because it was easier than putting her in a van. Officers struggled to place her in the back seat and never succeeded in getting her into a fully upright position.

At the beginning of the drive, Edwards was gasping and wheezing before she slumped back. Within 10 minutes, she slipped out of sight and could not be heard on the cruiser camera. The officer drove another 3 minutes before he stopped to help another driver. It was when he returned to the vehicle that he found Edwards unconscious.

What has happened since Edwards' death?

The Knox County District Attorney's Office said Edwards died of a stroke and that none of the officers who handled her arrest will face criminal charges. Allen's office cited a medical examiner's report that said “at no time did law enforcement interaction cause or contribute to Ms. Edwards’ death.”

But Allen publicly denounced their actions, saying, "They did not show any empathy. They did not show any compassion. And I, like many, am sickened by the way she was treated."

Community members shared hundreds of critical Facebook comments about the officers' conduct during Edwards' arrest, and many gathered Feb. 27 to hold a vigil in her honor.

Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel said he was "disturbed and embarrassed" when he watched the videos, releasing a statement that read, in part, "My expectation is that our officers treat every person they encounter, regardless of the context or situation, with respect, dignity and basic decency. We should also take pride in helping those who need it."

Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com. Twitter @LizKellar.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville police investigation still pending after Lisa Edwards' death