DAVID BATTS
David Batts, 46, of Knoxville, Tennessee, died on January 8, 2025. His story is a criticalreminder of the intersection between public health, the criminal justice system, and human dignity—and it belongs on Lift Every Voice.
David Batts was an employee of the Knoxville Area Transit Authority. On the day of his death, while working in the Authority’s parking lot, a Transit Authority Director noticed he was behaving unusually and recommended he be taken to the hospital. He was transported to Tennessee Valley Hospital, where he was seen and then discharged just two hours later. During his brief hospital stay, a nurse accused him of groping her. Following that allegation, Knoxville Police arrested him, handcuffed him, and took him to jail. Once in custody, David Batts was reportedly punched, shocked, and pepper sprayed by jail staff for failing to follow their instructions. Shortly afterward, he died.
The official cause of death was listed as complications from bacterial meningitis—a serious infection that can impair cognitive function and communication. Medical experts later stated that Mr. Batts should never have been discharged from the hospital, as the illness can render a person unable to understand or respond appropriately to commands—such as those he failedto follow in jail.
David Batt’s death raises urgent questions about medical negligence, law enforcement protocols, and the treatment of individuals suffering from medical crises while in custody.
