LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Tenn. — A Dyer County Sheriff’s Deputy is off the job after being accused of having sexual contact with a 16-year-old.
The allegations are from when Christopher Cobb, 41, worked for the Ripley Police Department last year.
Court records say while on duty, he told a 16-year-old girl he thought her ethnicity was sexy. They say he then asked if she had kids and she told him how old she was.
An affidavit says he asked the girl and her friend to follow him to a different area because another officer was nearby. They went down the street where reports say Cobb grabbed the girl by her waist, pulled her toward him and kissed her two times. The girl then left with her friend.
Cobb’s wife told us the allegations are “bulls***” on Friday and referred us to their attorney for further comment. Their attorney said he can’t comment at this time.
Police say Cobb admitted he made contact with the two girls and said he possibly gave the one a hug and a kiss on the cheek — all while being on duty.
The Lauderdale County District Attorney’s Office described the allegations as very concerning.
The victim’s mother reported the incident to police on Oct. 5. Cobb was no longer with the Ripley Police Department at the time. He was working as a deputy in Dyer County.
It’s not clear why the crime wasn’t reported sooner.
The Dyer County Sheriff said Cobb was immediately fired when they found out he was being questioned about the incident because he failed to report that interview to his supervisor.
Cobb had only been working there for 17 days. He came to the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office after working as an officer in Newbern. Before that was his time in Ripley when the alleged incident occurred.
We reached out to the Ripley Police Department for a comment but have not yet heard back.
An arraignment hearing for the sexual contact with a minor charges is scheduled for Nov. 29.