Man Jailed for Fighting MNPD Officer on I-440 Ramp Thursday Night

Joseph Rainey, 43, who fought with Metro Police Officer Peter Kinsey Thursday night on the I-440 exit ramp to West End Avenue, is jailed this morning after being charged overnight with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and unlawfully being a pedestrian on the interstate system.

Officer Kinsey, driving a marked patrol car, had exited I-440 to travel west on West End Avenue when he encountered Rainey walking down the ramp toward the interstate. Officer Kinsey stopped and told Rainey that he could not be walking down the ramp. Rainey ignored Officer Kinsey and kept going. Officer Kinsey parked his patrol car on the ramp and headed to catch up with Rainey. Rainey refused Officer Kinsey's commands and started fighting on the side of the ramp. During the fight, with both men on the ground wrestling, Rainey managed to get a finger into the officer's pistol holster and discharge one round from the gun while it was holstered. No one was hit.

As the fight was going on, and while backup officers were on the way, a British police officer who had just flown into Nashville was exiting from I-440 and saw what was taking place. He rushed to Officer Kinsey's aid and managed to pull Rainey away. At that point, Officer Kinsey was able to deploy his Taser and subdue Rainey. The British officer assisted as Officer Kinsey handcuffed Rainey.

Both Rainey and Officer Kinsey went to hospitals to be checked out. Both were medically cleared. Rainey was interviewed at headquarters early today and taken to booking. A judicial commissioner set his bond at $77,000.