Tennessee Officer Fired After Attempted Homicide Charge Involving Wife

A Tennessee police officer accused of trying to kill his wife was fired from his department days after his arrest, ending his employment as prosecutors pursued an attempted criminal homicide charge. The arrest affidavit describes a domestic dispute in which his wife said she was assaulted and struggled to reach safety.

Carrington Ferguson, 35, was arrested after Metro Nashville officers spoke with a woman who reported an incident at the couple’s home early on October 24. The Gallatin Police Department initially placed Ferguson on administrative leave and then announced his termination on October 27.

The criminal charges include attempted criminal homicide, interference with a 911 call and domestic assault. Those are accusations in a pending case, not findings of guilt. The employer’s decision to fire Ferguson is separate from the question of whether the state can prove the charges.

The account given to police

According to reporting on the arrest affidavit, Ferguson’s wife said she had tried to speak with him about concerns involving alleged drug use and behavior changes. Police attributed that allegation to her statement, not as a medical determination about Ferguson or an established explanation for the alleged assault.

She told investigators he became aggressive and allegedly grabbed her by the neck, pinning her against a wall. The affidavit describes an effort to get away during which a picture frame broke. Officers said Ferguson then allegedly used part of the broken frame during the altercation.

The complaint also alleges that Ferguson interfered with efforts to call for help. According to local reporting, the woman said he locked her out and that she was unable to retrieve her keys and belongings. She later contacted police from a relative’s home and went to a Nashville police precinct to report what had happened.

Officers observed injuries to her face, neck and arms, according to published descriptions of the affidavit. NewsChannel 5 reported she was taken to Skyline Hospital for evaluation. The cited reports did not establish her longer-term medical condition.

The department’s response

When Gallatin police learned about the arrest on October 24, the department placed Ferguson on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. That initial response preserved a period for administrative review while the criminal matter proceeded through Davidson County.

On October 27, the department said Ferguson had been terminated. The change from leave to dismissal occurred after additional details emerged about the alleged domestic incident. Local stations including WSMV, NewsChannel 5 and WKRN reported the action and the criminal complaint.

The department’s public statement did not amount to a criminal finding. Administrative disciplinary decisions and criminal proceedings use different processes, and a police department can end employment before a court determines whether an accused person committed an offense.

Ferguson was reported to have been booked with an $80,000 bond after the arrest. The cited reports did not confirm a plea, trial date or final disposition of the criminal charges.

A separate accusation in the affidavit

Together, the published allegations provide a chronology that extends beyond the day of the arrest. They also explain why local outlets reported the employment action as a notable development involving an officer accused of conduct against a member of his own household.

References: WSMV | WTVF NewsChannel 5 | WKRN, via AOL

The Truth In Facts team was assisted by generative AI technology in creating this content