Post by Shuftin on Jul 31, 2006 2:38:56 GMT -5
July 07, 2006
In Fletcher, NC a local off duty trooper was stopped for speeding (approx. 90 in a 45) The Fletcher Police officer gave the trooper a warning. When the Fletcher police chief heard about it he got with the local DA and ordered the officer to issue a summons, and of course he alerted the media.
The court case is still pending however already the Fletcher police officer has resigned under pressure from the chief and the trooper has been transferred from Western North Carolina to the Raleigh area.
FLETCHER -- The Henderson County District Attorney has requested a written report after a Fletcher Police officer did not issue a ticket to a N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper who was caught speeding.
On Tuesday around 1 p.m. a Fletcher officer, who the Police Department has declined to name, reportedly stopped a vehicle on Mills Gap Road. The vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and was clocked at about 99 mph in a 45 mph zone by the officer, according to officials at the Police Department.
The operator of the vehicle, Sgt. Kevin Bray with the Highway Patrol, did not have his driver's license with him at the time of the stop, but indicated to the officer that he was a trooper with the highway patrol.
According to a press release issued by Police Chief Langdon B. Raymond, Bray was off duty at the time of the stop and was not in a state vehicle.
After confirming Bray's identity, the police officer, using what Langdon calls "his discretion" did not charge the trooper.
Raymond said in his press release that Bray's supervisor was contacted Tuesday, and the Police Department contacted Troop Headquarters in Raleigh as well as the Henderson County District Attorney's Office.
Raymond would not comment further than the issuance of the press release to the Times-News. Calls to his office Wednesday were not returned.
Sgt. Steve Morgan with the Police Department, who usually acts as the department's spokesman, would not comment on the incident, stating that all inquires were being handled by Chief Raymond.
District Attorney Jeff Hunt also issued a press release Wednesday stating that he advised Chief Raymond to direct his officer to issue a citation for any relevant and appropriate charges indicated by the facts as he understood them at that time.
Hunt said in the release that it is beyond the authority of the District Attorney to order a law enforcement officer to issue specific named charges of a particular crime.
The district attorney added that it was appropriate to direct an officer to revisit the impressions he received from the facts at the time he determined that there was probable cause to stop the vehicle in question. If those facts cause the officer to reach the conclusion that the requisites exist to sustain relevant charges, he should proceed, Hunt said.
In the press release, Hunt said that he advised Raymond to submit a written report to the district attorney's office describing the entire matter including the officer's written report and any other information about the incident.
Hunt said in the release that he would examine the report and determine if further charges are appropriate.
Hunt refused to comment further than the press release.
Calls to the local N.C. Highway Patrol and Highway Patrol Headquarters in Raleigh were not returned by press time.
A Fletcher police officer who did not originally charge a N.C. Highway Patrol trooper who was speeding is no longer employed with the department.
According to personnel records, Officer Adam White was employed with the Fletcher Police Department from Sept. 13, 2004, to April 26, 2006.
In Fletcher, NC a local off duty trooper was stopped for speeding (approx. 90 in a 45) The Fletcher Police officer gave the trooper a warning. When the Fletcher police chief heard about it he got with the local DA and ordered the officer to issue a summons, and of course he alerted the media.
The court case is still pending however already the Fletcher police officer has resigned under pressure from the chief and the trooper has been transferred from Western North Carolina to the Raleigh area.
FLETCHER -- The Henderson County District Attorney has requested a written report after a Fletcher Police officer did not issue a ticket to a N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper who was caught speeding.
On Tuesday around 1 p.m. a Fletcher officer, who the Police Department has declined to name, reportedly stopped a vehicle on Mills Gap Road. The vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and was clocked at about 99 mph in a 45 mph zone by the officer, according to officials at the Police Department.
The operator of the vehicle, Sgt. Kevin Bray with the Highway Patrol, did not have his driver's license with him at the time of the stop, but indicated to the officer that he was a trooper with the highway patrol.
According to a press release issued by Police Chief Langdon B. Raymond, Bray was off duty at the time of the stop and was not in a state vehicle.
After confirming Bray's identity, the police officer, using what Langdon calls "his discretion" did not charge the trooper.
Raymond said in his press release that Bray's supervisor was contacted Tuesday, and the Police Department contacted Troop Headquarters in Raleigh as well as the Henderson County District Attorney's Office.
Raymond would not comment further than the issuance of the press release to the Times-News. Calls to his office Wednesday were not returned.
Sgt. Steve Morgan with the Police Department, who usually acts as the department's spokesman, would not comment on the incident, stating that all inquires were being handled by Chief Raymond.
District Attorney Jeff Hunt also issued a press release Wednesday stating that he advised Chief Raymond to direct his officer to issue a citation for any relevant and appropriate charges indicated by the facts as he understood them at that time.
Hunt said in the release that it is beyond the authority of the District Attorney to order a law enforcement officer to issue specific named charges of a particular crime.
The district attorney added that it was appropriate to direct an officer to revisit the impressions he received from the facts at the time he determined that there was probable cause to stop the vehicle in question. If those facts cause the officer to reach the conclusion that the requisites exist to sustain relevant charges, he should proceed, Hunt said.
In the press release, Hunt said that he advised Raymond to submit a written report to the district attorney's office describing the entire matter including the officer's written report and any other information about the incident.
Hunt said in the release that he would examine the report and determine if further charges are appropriate.
Hunt refused to comment further than the press release.
Calls to the local N.C. Highway Patrol and Highway Patrol Headquarters in Raleigh were not returned by press time.
A Fletcher police officer who did not originally charge a N.C. Highway Patrol trooper who was speeding is no longer employed with the department.
According to personnel records, Officer Adam White was employed with the Fletcher Police Department from Sept. 13, 2004, to April 26, 2006.