Judge drops charges for local attorney

A judge Wednesday dismissed the charges against a 37-year-old attorney who was arrested in April for threatening people outside the Hamilton County Chattanooga Courts Building.

Fisher Wise no longer faces charges of retaliation against a police officer and disorderly conduct after attorneys on his case presented an agreement to Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck.

“If there was a contested hearing, I would recuse myself,” Shattuck said. “But since there’s no issue, I will dismiss the case.”

Cynthia LeCroy-Schemel, a prosecutor brought in from the 10th Judicial District to work the case, said the charges were dismissed “without prejudice.” That means Wise must comply with his mental health treatment, which he began shortly after his arrest. Otherwise, his charges could return, she said.

Wise’s attorney, Ben McGowan, said his client has been diagnosed with a common, treatable mood disorder that is under control. He said Wise is awaiting approval from the Board of Professional Responsibility to take clients and practice in Hamilton County again, “and that we are very optimistic.”

Wise was arrested April 13 after a different defense attorney alerted police to his “crazy” behavior at Seventh and Cherry streets around 10:15 a.m., records show. When the officer approached him outside the courts building, Wise took a fighting stance. “You don’t want to do this,” he warned.

Although the officer asked him to calm down, Wise continued to use profane language and racial slurs before threatening the officer and the attorney who reported him, records show.

Around that time, his arrest affidavit shows, Wise had a confrontation with another defense attorney in the courthouse, prompting Hamilton County Criminal Court judges to ban him from the premises until further notice. That ban was in effect at the time of his arrest, records show.

Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at zpeterson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow on Twitter @zackpeterson918.