Community and family members are demanding answers after 24 year-old Johnny “JJ” Baldwin drowned in Tims Ford Boiling Fork Creek.
Body camera footage from Winchester Police showed Baldwin drowning as police yelled to him.
According to police, they began pursuing Baldwin in Decherd following a minor traffic violation and said it continued into Winchester with speeds never exceeding 45 miles per hour.
A Winchester police report stated that Baldwin fled on foot and ended up in the water.
In a video that On Target News viewed you can hear Baldwin asking officers for help. One officer said, “Then swim. Your dumb a** jumped in the river.”
No one helped Baldwin even though another officer considered going in. He was told by another officer “No don’t go in there with him, he’s going to pull you in.”
Community members and family members are demanding answers and started the “Justice For JJ” Facebook page calling out the police for their actions.
The Winchester Police Chief told WKRN News 2 that his officers made the best decision, saying they didn’t know how deep the water was, it was dark and that they are not trained in water rescue.
