Man wrongfully charged with murder loses job, pharmacy tech license

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man spent days at 201 Poplar and lost his job and work license after being wrongfully charged with first-degree murder.

Memphis Police thought Chester Tuggle, 23, participated in the robbing and killing of a man at the Summit Arbors Circle on April 18.

“I was faced with first-degree murder and aggravated robbery,” said Tuggle. “That was the worst day of my life. I had just come back from a family trip and I saw that warrant out. I had to turn myself in.”

The surviving victim allegedly showed police a picture of Tuggle on Facebook and said he pointed a gun at him and demanded his possessions. Police now admit Tuggle did not do it.

“It’s just crazy. You shouldn’t point out innocent people for something they didn’t do. I didn’t know those people,” Tuggle told WREG.

While his charges were cleared on July 15, too much damage had already been done. According to Tuggle, he lost his job, pharmacy technician licenses, and reputation.

“I can’t live my day-to-day life how it normally was because of this,” Tuggle said.

Tuggle also spent three days at 201 Poplar and more than 30 days with charges he did not commit. “I saw how it was in there and what people were going through.”

After seeing their son in court, Tuggle’s parents began getting tips to prove his innocence. They reached out to family friend Quantrall Fletcher, who is familiar with the law.

Fletcher said phone technology eventually helped clear Tuggle’s name.

“The pinging of the phone with AT&T brought together where he was,” said Fletcher. “I wouldn’t  say that it was lazy work but there needs to be different methodologies.”

His family says they can’t help but think there may be other innocent people going through the same thing. They want the police to do better.

“Do what they are being paid for,” said Sharron Tuggle, Chester’s mom. “Get to the bottom of real situations. Not just trying to close a case and say, ‘Okay, we got the person.’ That’s not the end of it. You need to make sure you have the right person.”

“As a parent looking at your son, it terrified me,” said Tuggle’s dad.

The Tuggle family said no one has apologized for the wrongful arrest, but they will not stop fighting.

WREG reached out to Memphis Police to see if they have another person of interest in the crime and how often this happens.

We are waiting to hear back.

Demario Wilson was captured by U.S. Marshals regarding this crime in May.

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