KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A Tennessee deputy accused of stalking was fired by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
The firing of Nicholas Phillips, 50, by Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler was announced Thursday, the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported. Phillips’ arrest and subsequent firing were confirmed by sheriff’s spokesperson Kimberly Glenn, the newspaper reported.
Phillips could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday, according to the News-Sentinel.
According to a sheriff’s report, Phillips harassed an ex-girlfriend for months with constant text messages and phone calls after their relationship of 1 1/2 years ended earlier this year.
The victim, who is not named in the report, arrived at the Family Justice Center in Knoxville on Wednesday and reported that Phillips had continued to harass her after she reported past incidents to internal affairs, WBIR reported.
According to the arrest report, the victim told deputies she and Phillips ended their relationship in March 2020, the television station reported. The woman said she asked Phillips on several occasions to stop contacting her, but added that the deputy continued to call and text her, even after she blocked his telephone number, WBIR reported.
The woman said she moved to a new apartment complex to get away from Phillips, but he found her in early November and left a note on her car, the News-Sentinel reported.
According to the report, Phillips left the woman a voice message telling her he wanted to “hurt her and make her feel pain,” the News-Sentinel reported.
The Family Crimes Unit is leading the investigation, the newspaper reported. Glenn declined to comment further, saying that the case was under investigation.
Nicholas Phillips, a deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, was fired after he was arrested on stalking charges.