UPDATE: Following the investigation by Metro Police, Officer Myriah Iles was found to have been defending herself and was cleared of charges. The original story is below.
A Metro Nashville police officer has been decommissioned from duty following charges of aggravated assault.
Police said Officer Myriah Iles was in downtown Nashville Saturday night when a group of people saw her grab her girlfriend by the throat and place the woman over her shoulder.
The group said when they confronted Iles, she put the woman down and then pushed one of them to the ground. When one woman went to help up her friend, Iles is accused of punching her in the face multiple times, breaking her nose and causing her to lose consciousness.
The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police said when officers arrived, two men were restraining Iles. She was then taken into custody.
Iles told officers she was carrying her girlfriend because she was intoxicated and denied putting her hands on her throat. She said two men and two women approached her, making racial slurs and demanding she put her girlfriend down. Iles said she pushed one of the men who confronted her and swung her fist once, but did not make contact.
Detectives interviewed Iles and her girlfriend, but no charges related to domestic violence were filed. Police said the matter will be reviewed by the District Attorney's office.
Iles was charged with aggravated assault.
The 27-year-old joined the police department in 2015 and was assigned to the North Precinct.
