MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The former mayor of Millersville bypassed approval by the state fire marshal to issue a permit to himself for a city building project in which he was the contractor, according to an affidavit obtained by WSMV4 Investigates.
Former Mayor Tim Lassiter was arrested Tuesday night and charged with criminal simulation and tampering with government records.
Lassiter posted a bond and was released from the Sumner County jail.
While Millersville police did not expand on the reasons for the charge, WSMV4 Investigates obtained the affidavit and fire marshal inspection that reveals what prompted the arrest.
According to the affidavit, Lassiter issued a permit for renovation of the city’s fire department without approval by the state fire marshal.
Payroll records show at the time, Lassiter was working as a building inspector.
“Mr. Lassiter issued permit with knowledge of its falsity, with the intent of presenting the document as a valid working permit,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also states that Lassiter was the contractor on the project.
“Mr. Lassiter intentionally concealed the verify of the permit so the project could proceed,” the affidavit read.
WSMV4 Investigates reached out to Lassiter at two different phone numbers but were unable to reach him by our deadline.
At the city commission meeting Tuesday night, Millersville assistant police chief Shawn Taylor said a follow-up inspection by the fire marshal of the renovation and expansion of the fire department found the building has so many problems that it does not meet code requirements.
“The building project was completed and did not meet the code requirements set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated making the building unusable for its intended purpose,” the affidavit states.
Taylor said the city was told it could cost $250,000 to fix the problems. “The architects are saying it’s going to be cheaper to rip out everything that was built and rebuild it, versus trying to fix it part by part,” Taylor said.
The arrest of Lassiter is the latest controversy to shake up the small Sumner County town.
You can read more about our prior investigations in Millersville here and here.
Taylor said Lassiter’s arrest is part of a corruption investigation they are calling, “Operation Clean Sweep” and other arrests are forthcoming.
If there’s anything you want WSMV4 Investigates to know about, you can contact us here.
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