Media

Sheriff’s Office Motorcycle Deputy Hurt in East Memphis Traffic Crash

Release Date: October 3, 2006

A Shelby County Traffic Deputy was hurt today when another motorist pulled into his lane of traffic just before noon.

Witnesses say Deputy John Shields was riding his Sheriff’s Office motorcycle north on Sycamore View Road and had just passed the intersection at Shelby Oaks when the other vehicle turned in front of him from a service station driveway.

Traffic investigators say Deputy Shields could not avoid hitting the other vehicle, a 1997 Ford Contour driven by Granville Renfrow.  Renfrow, 18, lives in Memphis and was cited for Emerging from a Private Drive, which means he failed to yield the right-of- way.

Deputy Shields, 32, lives in Arlington and was taken to the Regional Medical Center where he remains in stable condition. UPDATE: Deputy Shields has been released from the Medical Center.

Deputy Shields hired on with the Sheriff’s Office in November of 1994 and has been assigned to the Traffic Bureau’s Motorcycle Squad since August of 2005.