Federal Lawsuit Filed Against County Over Search

The Cannon Courier is reporting a woman arrested in June 2008 by the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department during its discovery of a marijuana growing operation has filed a lawsuit against the county.

The lawsuit was filed against Billy Nichols, in his official capacity as Sheriff of Cannon County, Charlie Wilder, in his capacity as a Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy and individually, and JOHN DOES, unknown employees of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department in their official and individual capacities. Also named as a defendant is Mike Gannon, in his official capacity as County Executive.

The suit was filed on June 15th of this year in United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, at Nashville, by Joann Johnson of 4545 Big Hill Road in the Short Mountain Community of Cannon County.

The U.S. Marshals were in Cannon County at the time as part of a state-wide manhunt called Operation FALCON III, looking for a fugitive, Jim Flesher, who was reported to have been at the residence.

Edward Johnson, who was 55 at the time, and Joann C. Johnson, who was 42, were arrested at the scene. A total of 140 marijuana plants were removed with a reported street value of $280,000.

Edward Johnson was subsequently indicted by the Cannon County Grand Jury and was also arrested in March of this year on charges of possession of a still apparatus and possession of unstamped alcoholic beverages by the Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission. Flesher was captured in Arkansas in August of 2008.

www.cannoncourier.com