With Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold behind bars after having his bond revoked by a federal magistrate, who's in charge?

County Mayor Ernest Burgess tells NewsRadio WGNS Chief Deputy Randy Garrett is the next in succession...

Rutherford County Sheriff's spokeswoman Lisa Marchesoni, in a release, states:

Chief Deputy Randy Garrett said the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office has a dedicated staff who will continue to serve the citizens of Rutherford County. In Sheriff Arnold's absence, Chief Deputy Garrett will oversee operations of the Sheriff's Office.

Mayor Burgess says he's been told by the county's legal counsel that by state law, if the office is "vacant due to death, resignation, incapacity, or other causes, the duties are temporarily discharged by the chief deputy...

Mayor Burgess did say that since the federal magistrate stated during Wednesday's ruling, "If Arnold resigned as sheriff, he could be released from jail..."

The mayor added Arnold will continue to receive his annual salary of just over 127-thousand dollars while behind bars until which time he resigns or is convicted of a felony.

FROM THE TENNESSEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HANDBOOK (LINK TO PDF HERE)