Sober driver arrested for DUI and thrown in jail because officer knew his brother

October 2, 2024 Sharon Banks

Thomas Manis, a Tennessee man, is suing the state and two state troopers for $1 million, alleging wrongful arrest and detention for DUI despite being completely sober.

The lawsuit stems from an incident on December 29, 2023, when Manis was pulled over in Monroe County for allegedly having illegally tinted windows, a claim Manis denies.

According to the complaint, Manis was cooperative and respectful during the stop, and Trooper Riley Shreiner noted that there was no sign of intoxication or marijuana smell.

However, the situation escalated when Trooper William Yates-Matoy recognized Manis as the brother of someone he knew and insisted that Manis had marijuana in his car, despite no evidence. Yates-Matoy then accused Manis of being under the influence because his eyes were red, which Manis attributed to just waking up.

After passing initial sobriety tests, Yates-Matoy administered additional tests and continued to press Manis about drug use, ultimately arresting him for DUI.

During the arrest, Manis’ mother, Angela, arrived on the scene and protested the arrest, insisting that her son had not been drinking or using drugs. Bodycam footage captured Angela’s confrontation with Shreiner, although the officer was seen turning off his audio several times during key moments.

Subsequent blood tests confirmed that Manis had no drugs or alcohol in his system, but he still spent hours in jail, had his mugshot taken, and his car impounded. The charges were eventually dropped in April 2024.

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Manis is now suing for unlawful seizure, false arrest, illegal search, false imprisonment and assault, and claims that the Tennessee Highway Patrol has a culture of violating constitutional rights in the Knoxville area.