The body of a person, possibly someone arrested by Deputy Robert "R.J." Leonard, was found in his patrol car after it was recovered from the Tennessee River, but the deputy remains missing. Leonard was last heard from after making an arrest and heading to the jail, with his vehicle found upside down with a female body in the backseat. Search efforts are ongoing, but officials fear the outcome for Deputy Leonard may not be positive.
Meigs County Sheriff's Office deputy Robert "R.J." Leonard went missing after his patrol car was found in the Tennessee River while transporting a woman to the county jail. Authorities are unsure of the nature of the disturbance that led to the incident. Despite finding the patrol car with the detained woman inside, Deputy Leonard has not been located. The search for Deputy Leonard is ongoing, and officials fear the outcome may not be positive.
The patrol vehicle of Tennessee Deputy Robert "R.J." Leonard, who disappeared after making an arrest, has been found in a river with the body of a woman believed to be the arrestee recovered from the backseat. The deputy remains missing, and the search continues. Authorities are working to confirm the woman's identity. Leonard had responded to a report of a fight, taken the woman into custody, and then lost communication while driving to the county jail. The search led to the recovery of the vehicle, and officials are investigating the incident.
A body was recovered in the back of a missing Meigs County deputy's patrol vehicle, which was found overturned in water, and the deputy and the woman he arrested remain missing. The deputy, identified as Deputy Robert J. Leonard, was last heard from while responding to a call and texting his wife before authorities lost contact with him. Dive teams located the vehicle in the Tennessee River, and the search operation continues as authorities work to identify the woman in custody and uncover more details about the incident.
