A retired FBI executive is suing the Knoxville Police Department and a police officer after she says she was falsely arrested for DUI while completely sober.
The incident happened after a minor fender bender near West Town Mall in Knoxville, Tennessee, during Father’s Day weekend last year. According to the federal lawsuit, Knoxville police officer Christian Ferreris quickly accused Allison Chumise of drinking and moved into field sobriety testing after speaking with the drivers for about a minute.
Chumise denied drinking and told WVLT News she was shocked by the officer’s accusations. The lawsuit claims the officer falsely stated that he smelled alcohol and improperly administered field sobriety tests.
Body camera footage included in the report shows Chumise repeatedly pointing out that the pen light used during the eye test was malfunctioning and turning off during the examination. She said the officer ignored her concerns and never told her whether she passed or failed the tests before placing her in handcuffs.
The lawsuit states Chumise was taken to the Knox County detention facility, strip searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and held for more than 12 hours before being released. She described the experience as humiliating and traumatic.
Court records referenced in the report show Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab results later came back negative for both alcohol and drugs. The DUI charge was eventually dismissed in December 2024.
Chumise also claims bond conditions required her to install an ignition interlock device, which later malfunctioned and disabled her vehicle in traffic.
Her attorney, Wesley Clark, says the lawsuit centers on constitutional violations and false DUI arrests involving innocent drivers. The lawsuit seeks damages for unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.
Knoxville Police Department released a statement saying the allegations are being taken seriously and that an internal investigation is ongoing.
Chumise told WVLT News she hopes speaking publicly about her experience will help prevent similar situations from happening to others.
