Former Kentucky lawmaker files lawsuit against police officer

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Former Kentucky lawmaker John Tilley has filed a lawsuit against Lexington Police Sergeant Markell Heyward.

The lawsuit accuses Heyward of malicious prosecution, defamation and more.

Tilley pled not guilty to a rape charge back in August of 2022. In July of 2024, after a trial, a jury found Tilley not guilty of rape.

The former lawmaker has now filed a defamation lawsuit against Heyward, who was an investigator of the case.

The lawsuit claims “Defendant Heyward’s statements and testimony regarding John Tilley were defamatory in nature in that he alleged the plaintiff was responsible for rape without a factual basis and in reckless disregard for the truth.”

The lawsuit also claims Tilley suffered mental and emotional pain, great and lasting humiliation and embarrassment and dignitary harm following Heyward’s testimony at trial and his investigation of the case.

Tilley is now asking for punitive damages from Heyward.

We reached out to the Lexington Police Department for comment but have not heard back.