TELLICO PLAINS – Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained an indictment for a former police chief accused of misconduct.

James Russell Parks, Jr.; image courtesy of TBI

On February 14, 2019, at the request of 10th District Attorney General Steve Crump, TBI Agents began investigating missing funds from the Tellico Plains Police Department’s drug enforcement fund, which totaled approximately $840. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that James Russell Parks, Jr., the department’s police chief was responsible for the missing funds. The investigation further determined Parks (DOB: 3-22-75) was involved in a sexual relationship with an information paid out of the department’s drug enforcement fund. Parks resigned from the department when the allegation surfaced.

 

On Tuesday, the Monroe County Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging the Tellico Plains man with one count of Official Misconduct. On Thursday, Agents arrested Parks and booked him into the Monroe County Jail on $6,000 bond.