Bond Lowered for Teacher Who Pointed Gun in Cemetery

A judge has greatly reduced a bond for a teacher arrested for pointing a gun at teenagers who were making a nighttime visit to a cemetery near Chattanooga.

The judge Wednesday reduced a $180,000 bond to $25,000, saying Sequoyah High School teacher Stacy Swallows has a "tremendous reputation" and is a "stellar citizen."

Judge Bob Moon set a Nov. 17 arraignment and ordered the teens and others who say Swallows detained them at gunpoint Saturday night to stay at least three miles from the cemetery.

Defense attorney Jerry Summers said Swallows lives close to the cemetery and called deputies to report hearing possible gunshots. Summers said the nine cemetery visitors did not have any guns, drugs or alcohol and Swallows was arrested on nine counts of aggravated assault and nine counts of false imprisonment.