TBI arrests former Calhoun, TN police chief, officer in extortion investigation

CALHOUN, Tenn. — UPDATE: The City of Graysville held an emergency meeting about Police Chief Tanksley.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has obtained indictments for two former employees of the Calhoun, Tennessee Police Department.

At the request of 10th District Attorney General Stephen Crump, TBI Agents began investigating 43-year-old Julie Tanksley and 46-year-old Charles Godsey on April 8th, 2015.

During the course of the investigation, the TBI says agents developed information that Tanksley, the department’s former chief, and Godsey, an officer, extorted two arrestees by seizing personal property until the arrestees contributed money to the police department’s drug fund.

On Tuesday, the McMinn County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging each with two counts of extortion.

On Friday, both Tanksley and Godsey surrendered to authorities at the McMinn County Jail, where they were each booked and subsequently released on $4,000 bond.

Tanksley is the current police chief in Graysville in Rhea County.

This is a developing story. Depend on NewsChannel 9 to bring you updates as we get them.