Jackson Police Officer Thomas Tinklepaugh was sued in 2017 by a Jackson resident, Tracy Smith, who claimed his civil rights were violated during an August 2015 arrest. Smith had been approached by Tinklepaugh over a minor dispute, and Smith repeatedly directed a profane insult at the officer. Tinklepaugh arrested Smith after the outburst, allegedly slamming him onto a vehicle and tackling him to the ground, which sent Smith to the hospital. Courts later found no probable cause for the arrest, noting that Smith’s “f— you” remarks were protected speech and did not justify the charge of resisting an officer. Smith’s lawsuit against Tinklepaugh and the city alleges unlawful stop and search, excessive force, false arrest, First Amendment retaliation for protected speech, and false imprisonment.