A Carter County deputy accused of misconduct was terminated from his employment after an internal investigation revealed he had violated department policy according to a Carter County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

CCSO Public Information Officer Thomas Gray confirmed on Tuesday that Deputy Nick Andes had been released from his employment with the department on Monday.

“That came regarding an internal investigation into the same incident as the TBI investigation,” Gray said.

In May, Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford placed Deputy Nick Andes on administrative leave pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into an allegation that Andes had shoved a juvenile resulting in injury to the child and also brandished a firearm during the incident.

In July, the TBI and the District Attorney’s Office presented the results of their investigation to a Carter County Grand Jury, which issued no true bill in the case, meaning no criminal charges were recommended by the Grand Jury.

Following the decision by the Grand Jury, Lunceford said his department was still conducting their internal investigation parallel to the TBI investigation, adding Andes would remain on administrative leave until their internal investigation was completed.

On Tuesday, Gray confirmed the internal investigation had been completed and stated the investigation revealed Andes had violated CCSO policy during the alleged incident.

“It was looking at our Sheriff’s Office policy,” Gray said of the investigation. “It was not looking at criminal charges. As you know, the Grand Jury cleared him of all that.”

According to a statement released by Lunceford following the announcement of the TBI investigation in May, the inquiry stemmed from an incident which allegedly happened during the evening hours on Friday, May 18, on West Fifth Street in Watauga. Andes was off duty when the incident allegedly took place.

“Witnesses say he displayed a weapon and a badge, and accuse him of shoving a juvenile who Andes believed threw rocks at his child,” the statement released by Lunceford said.

Lunceford said the Sheriff’s Department conducted an initial inquiry into the incident, and he then requested that the TBI conduct an independent investigation.