University of Tennessee police close investigation into Yassin Terou’s arrest

The University of Tennessee Police Department has closed its investigation into the treatment of local business owner Yassin Terou during his May 15 arrest, finding no evidence of violations of policy or conduct.

The investigation was launched following a complaint Terou filed with UTPD two days after his arrest, alleging that an officer placed zipper cuffs on him after he complained of nerve damage and denied him medical attention.

Terou is a Syrian refugee who became a US citizen in 2020 and the well-known owner of Yassin’s Falafel House restaurant in Knoxville.

Lt. Dale Wolf, who served as an internal affairs investigator, interviewed the officers involved and reviewed body camera footage of the incident. An internal investigation found no evidence of improper treatment, including denial of medical care or excessive use of force.

University of Tennessee police close investigation into Yassin Terou’s arrest

Ten other pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested along with Terou for trespassing on campus after they demonstrated on the UT College of Law lawn in violation of campus rules. During Terrou’s arrest and hospital stay, the restaurant owner alleged:

That Lieutenant Brian Greenlee zipped up his cuffs after requesting medical attention. (According to UTPD, body cameras show that Greenlee did not touch Terou.)
Terou asked the officers to remove his raincoat, but they did not do so. (This was true, UTPD officers said, because their priority was handling arrestees. Corporal Jeffrey Quirin, who called the dispatcher requesting an AMR ambulance for Terou, later took off his poncho at UTPD.)
That Terou did not receive medical attention for 45 minutes after his arrest. (This is true, UTPD officers said, although they requested an ambulance shortly after being notified of Terou’s condition.)
Officer Steven Murphy discussed Terou’s private medical information with a nurse at the hospital. (Murphy denied the allegations, stating that the discussion was not of a medical nature. No evidence was found to support this claim.)
That Murphy removed the sling without medical attention to return to custody. (This is true, although Murphy said a nurse advised him that the scarf was “not medically necessary.”)
That Terou was temporarily paralyzed due to nerve damage related to the arrest. (UTPD says body camera footage shows him moving his wrist and hand throughout the incident.)

Terou and his attorney Loretta Cravens were not immediately available for comment.

Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter covering technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email [email protected].

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