UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – A federal wrongful death lawsuit filed this week alleges that systemic failures at the Union County Jail led to the painful and preventable death of a former Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy who suffered a fatal alcohol withdrawal seizure while in custody.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the estate of 52-year-old Benjamin Paul Hibbert, names Union County, Sheriff Billy Breeding, Jail Administrator Jeremy Meltabarger, several corrections officers, a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper, and the jail’s medical provider as defendants.
According to the complaint, Hibbert died on Sept. 6, 2025, after being left largely unmonitored in a holding cell despite repeated warnings from family members that he faced a high risk of life-threatening alcohol withdrawal.
Former Deputy Struggled with Alcohol Addiction
Hibbert served with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years, from 1991 until his retirement in 2016. After leaving law enforcement, he and his wife, Emily, operated a hot dog stand while he battled what the lawsuit describes as a worsening alcohol addiction.
Court records state that on Sept. 5, 2025, Emily Hibbert called 911 after becoming concerned for her husband’s safety while he was driving intoxicated on Maynardville Highway.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper arrested Hibbert on a DUI charge and transported him to the Union County Jail for booking.
Wife Warned Jail Staff of Withdrawal Risks
The lawsuit alleges Emily Hibbert repeatedly contacted jail personnel after the arrest, warning them that her husband was a severe alcoholic and at significant risk of experiencing dangerous withdrawal symptoms if not medically supervised.
Despite those warnings, attorneys claim Hibbert was classified simply as “under the influence” and placed in a holding cell commonly referred to as the “drunk tank.”
The complaint alleges no medical assessment was performed, no withdrawal protocol was initiated, and no vital signs were taken following his booking.
Lawsuit Details Final Hours
According to the lawsuit, surveillance video shows Hibbert becoming increasingly disoriented and physically distressed as his condition worsened.
Attorneys allege he repeatedly pressed an emergency call button in his cell for more than three minutes without receiving assistance.
The lawsuit states Hibbert suffered a violent seizure at approximately 2:19 p.m. on Sept. 6, eventually becoming unresponsive after falling face-down onto a mattress.
Despite jail policy requiring visual checks on inmates at regular intervals, the complaint alleges corrections officers logged welfare checks without actually looking inside the cell.
One officer is accused of scanning an electronic monitoring checkpoint outside the cell and documenting that Hibbert appeared safe while failing to visually confirm his condition.
According to the lawsuit, more than an hour passed before anyone entered the cell.
TBI Investigation Uncovered Alleged Policy Violations
When officers finally entered the cell around 3:22 p.m., Hibbert was found unresponsive, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges his face was discolored from oxygen deprivation and that emergency responders encountered additional problems when attempting to save him, including an automated external defibrillator with dead batteries.
Hibbert was transported to North Knoxville Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation inquiry launched after his death allegedly found that correctional officers had routinely scanned electronic check-in points without conducting required visual inspections of inmates.
According to the lawsuit, investigators determined surveillance footage contradicted several documented inmate welfare checks.
The complaint also alleges that critical booking-area video footage was not preserved during the investigation.
Officers Fired Following Investigation
The lawsuit states that corrections officers Christopher Shane Snyder, Jessie Hooper and Edward Tolliver were terminated after the TBI investigation concluded they violated jail policies.
Officials also reportedly moved electronic inmate check stations inside cells, requiring officers to physically enter rooms when conducting welfare checks.
Attorneys representing Hibbert’s estate argue that proper medical screening, observation and treatment for alcohol withdrawal likely would have prevented his death.
The lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful death and alleges jail officials demonstrated deliberate indifference to a serious medical condition while Hibbert was in custody.
Union County Sheriff vehicle (WVLT)
