KPD faces federal civil rights lawsuit in First Amendment case involving local YouTuber

A major First Amendment battle is unfolding in East Tennessee as the Kingsport Police Department faces a federal civil rights lawsuit after an appellate court fully cleared a local online critic. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, is backing YouTuber Joshua Gibbons. In 2022, Gibbons filmed a Kingsport police cruiser allegedly speeding, then later confronted the officer at a drive-thru. The next morning, eight armed officers raided Gibbons’ home and arrested him. While he was initially convicted of disorderly conduct, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals recently overturned it unanimously, ruling that criticizing police is protected speech. FIRE’s civil lawsuit accuses the city and police leadership of deliberate, illegal retaliation. The City of Kingsport says it cannot comment on active litigation.