Back in June, 2024, Crossville Police detective Tyrel Lorenz attempted to arrest 33-year-old Anthony Corson, a known sex offender, for a violation of the sex offender registry.  During an interrogation by the detective in the interview room of the Police Department, Detective Lorenz advised Corson he was under arrest.  Corson suddenly began physically and verbally resisting arrest cussing at the officer and an altercation ensued between Detective Lorenz and Corson. The Detective eventually restrained Corson and placed him under arrest for the sex offender registry charge and an additional charge of resisting arrest. Corson is a known sex offender dating back to 2009 and is listed on the TBI sex offenders register as an “Offender against Children”. Corson was charged with rape of a child in 2009 with numerous other charges since that time. CLICK HERE FOR TBI SEX OFFENDER PAGE

Two months after his arrest in June – Corson somehow convinced the TBI to issue a complaint of assault against Detective Lorenz. An investigation ensued whereby a Cumberland County Grand Jury voted last week (Aug 5th, 2024) to indict Detective Lorenz for assaulting Corson in the Detective’s attempt to arrest him.   It’s worth noting that a grand jury does not get to hear evidence from the accused – only evidence from the accuser (Corson).

Once the indictment was handed down, the TBI issued a press release stating only that Detective Lorenz was indicted on a  charge of assault.  CLICK HERE FOR PRESS RELEASE . The release did not mention the suspect Anthony Corson’s name or his history of being a habitual sex offender criminal nor the specific circumstances of the interview room where Corson ‘resisted arrest’.

The TBI press release also states that Corson was “transported to the hospital for treatment and released after the incident”. However, Corson was not taken to the hospital by Crossville Police who had no knowledge of Corson being injured or ever going to the hospital after the incident in the interview room.

The TBI release was biased against the Detective– who was put on administrative leave after the grand jury indictment. But much worse – The very same TBI release was broadcast on all news media locally and statewide on TV news. Detective Lorenz will likely be exonerated of the assault charge but as most people know- he has already been convicted by public opinion due to the news coverage of the incomplete TBI press release information.  The press release put Detective Lorenz in a very bad light implying HE was the criminal with no mention of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of sex offender Corson.  Strangely, the charge by the Crossville Police Department of Corson resisting arrest was dropped by the TBI with no explanation. We have reached out to District Attorney Bryant Dunaway for some clarity on this case but have not heard back.

Since Corson’s arrest back in June, he has been arrested again…twice – June 26 2024- Solicitation of a person under 18 and June 27, 2024- Engaging in sexual activity with a minor

 To be clear,  Corson is the criminal in this story – not Detective Lorenz who was carrying out his duty as a law enforcement officer.

This case can also cause concern by all local law enforcement officers that if they follow through with their training to restrain potential dangerous suspects, especially those who resist arrest, they may end up being prosecuted themselves for carrying out their duty to keep criminals off the streets.