Sumner County residents were shocked this week when a jury convicted former Lawrenceburg police officer Kyle Hunter Scott, 23, of assault and attempted official oppression. The verdict follows a two‑day trial that examined video evidence of Scott handcuffing a three‑year‑old child inside the child’s home during a so‑called “scared straight” attempt.
Details of the incident
According to the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office, the incident occurred on May 25, 2025. Video captured by a bystander shows Scott, wearing a Lawrenceburg Police Department‑issued service vest, entering the home while the child was crying. Prosecutors say Scott confronted the child about alleged property damage, then lifted the child, placed him on his stomach and secured handcuffs around his wrists. The child continued to cry and repeatedly called for his mother as Scott escorted him outside.
Scott repeatedly told the child to “stop resisting” before taking him out of the house, leading the youngster to believe he was being arrested. The video also shows the child reaching for his mother and pleading to be released.
Investigation and charges
White House Police Sergeant Dan Hunter obtained a copy of the video after it circulated online and turned it over to local investigators. A subsequent investigation revealed that the encounter had been planned by Scott, his girlfriend, and the child’s mother, who prosecutors say was frustrated with the child’s behavior. The child had been diagnosed with autism several months before the incident.
Scott was indicted by a Sumner County grand jury in July 2025 on child‑abuse and official‑oppression charges. The trial concluded with convictions on the lesser misdemeanor counts of assault and attempted official oppression. Under Tennessee law, those convictions carry a maximum sentence of 17 months and 29 days in county jail.
Responses from officials
Sumner County District Attorney Thomas Dean condemned Scott’s conduct, stating, “What the victim endured was not discipline, was not public service, and will not be tolerated in Sumner County.” Dean emphasized that the actions represented an abuse of the authority and trust placed in a police officer.
The Lawrenceburg Police Department terminated Scott’s employment shortly after the incident became public. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services also removed the child from the home pending further investigation.
Charges against other adults
The child’s mother faces charges of child neglect and failure to report abuse. Additional adults present in the home at the time of the incident have been charged with failure to report child abuse, though the district attorney’s office has not released the current status of those cases.
Next steps
Scott is scheduled to be sentenced next year by Criminal Court Judge Dee David Gay. The case underscores ongoing concerns about appropriate law‑enforcement conduct and the protection of vulnerable children in Tennessee.
Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
