‘This obviously looks really bad’: Millersville city attorney answers questions after raid

MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Millersville’s city attorney knows the optics.

“The TBI has made a big show of not only investigating your headquarters but (assistant police chief) Shawn Taylor’s house. This obviously looks really bad,” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

“It does. I think that was their intention was intimidation,” Bryant Kroll said.

In his first interview since Wednesday’s TBI raids, Kroll expressed confusion as to why the TBI raided their office to obtain documents the city offered to give and also responded to the controversies plaguing the police department.

WSMV4 Investigates first reported Wednesday that two search warrants reveal TBI agents sought evidence in connection to three alleged crimes in their raids connected to the Millersville Police Department.

The first search warrant seeks evidence of the crime of official misconduct at the police department.

The warrant sought all files, records, documents and data, including emails, of the Millersville mayor Tommy Long, former mayor Tim Lassiter, city commissioner Cristina Templet, her husband Winston Templet, former city manager Scott Avery, security company owner Jack Byrd, as well as former police chief Dustin Carr and reserve officer Mark Loy.

Many of the names associated with the files agents were seeking have been at the center of WSMV4′s Thin Blurred Line Investigations, which revealed how accused imposter police officers are working throughout Nashville.

Our investigation also revealed how the former administration of the police department, including former assistant police chief Glen Alred and former police chief officer Dustin Carr, were tied to the company Solaren, owned by Jack Byrd.

Our Thin Blurred Line investigations showed how Byrd is accused of allowing imposter police officers to work in various locations in Nashville.

The TBI’s interest in any files on the LLC “FU Tommy Long” follows our reporting that revealed that Winston Templet, commissioner Cristina Templet’s husband, registered the company.

Long and Christina Templet have clashed politically after the mayor accused the commissioner of election fraud, and a dumpster bearing the words, “FU Tommy Long” was placed directly beside the mayor’s home.

Our investigation also showed that Mark Loy, former city manager Scott Avery and other reserve officers in Millersville, all have files that lack the necessary training hours needed to be a police officer.

Following our investigations, Kroll said the city reached out to the TBI to share all of their files and information on the controversies.

“It’s information that we’ve been trying to give to them for many months now. So, we’re happy that they got it. We would have liked it to have been under better circumstances, but we’re still willing to give them whatever they want. the city has nothing to hide,” Kroll said.

On Wednesday, Sumner County district attorney Ray Whitley told WSMV4 Investigates that he directed the TBI to investigate the current police administration.

“If the TBI was given the option to take this information that you wanted them to have, but they came in and took all of that information, doesn’t that indicate they’re actually investigating your administration?” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

“Absolutely. they’ve indicated as such. We’re wondering what’s all going to be caught up in this dragnet. But they are in fact looking into certain allegations in the city with current employees,” Kroll said. “It’s unclear if the official misconduct is aimed at the people named in the search warrant, or if the official misconduct is aimed, frankly, at your city,” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

“Absolutely. I would think if the TBI is like any other police agency reviewed this evidence they’ve taken and found official misconduct on others, past employees or officials, that they would have a duty to prosecute that or bring that to a grand jury,” Kroll said. The second search warrant seeks evidence for aggravated perjury (lying under oath) and official oppression (when a public figure abuses his/her power against another individual).

The search warrant seeks Taylor’s phone in connection to a May 2024 “child predator operation” in collaboration with the Veterans for Child Rescue nonprofit.

That warrant also requests the phone of a criminal defendant by the name of Henry Jordan, as well as all files, records, documents and data pertaining to Millersville’s police investigation into Jordan.

The warrant goes on to seek all videos and photographs of Millersville police “communicating with suspects” in the child predator operation, and the body camera footage worn by Taylor and Morris, along with seven other individuals.

“I think what they’re suggesting is that this operation about child sex offenses was handled improperly,” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

“I think the investigation could have been held better, as any investigation can, but what happened was far from botched as some say it is,” Kroll said.

Taylor has also faced scrutiny for touting conspiracy theories on podcasts.

“Should he have a place in the Millersville police department if he does believe in these conspiracy theories?” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

“We’re talking about an individual who has been psychologically assessed more than a dozen times, and every time comes out to pass with flying colors. Some people may disagree with his political views, but that doesn’t mean he’s a danger to society,” Kroll said.

“Should he resign at this point?” asked WSM4 Investigates.

“I’ve not seen anything worthy of resigning,” Kroll said.

If there’s anything you think we should know about this story, please email Jeremy at Jeremy.finley@wsmv.com

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