Former Flomaton police chief pleads no contest in kidnapping case www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Pensacola Fla Oct 7 2012 The former Flomaton police chief arrested on a felony kidnapping charge has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge for making an unauthorized arrest across the state line in Century.

Geoffrey Ashley McGraw, 30, entered the no contest plea Thursday to a misdemeanor battery charge. Friday, Judge Michael Allen withheld adjudication again McGraw, and ordered him to pay $625 in court costs and $1,500 in restitution to victim Ronald Adam Barrow.

Prosecutors did not offer a sentence recommendation Friday in Escambia County Circuit Court. Instead, the prosecution pointed out that as a chief law enforcement officer, it was a “serious violation”, according to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille. The sentence was left to the discretion of the court.

Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steven Billy, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith and Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert appeared in the Pensacolacourtroom Friday, testifying as character witnesses on behalf of McGraw.

McGraw’s arrest stemmed from a joint operation by the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Barrow was arrested by McGraw at a home on Old Flomaton Road in Century — 0.177 miles from theAlabama state line. The FDLE said McGraw, without jurisdiction,took  Barrow into custody inFlorida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in a misdemeanor case. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.

McGraw was placed on leave by the Flomaton Town Council on February 27, 2012, and subsequently fired on March 12. Prior to being named the Flomaton police chief in January 2011, McGraw was a member of the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force.

McGraw will be able to retain his law enforcement certification under Alabama law.

Source: northEscambia.com

Alabama police chief arrested for kidnapping for making unauthorized arrest www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Escambia County Fla March 10 2012 The suspended Flomaton police chief has been arrested on a kidnapping charge for allegedly making an unauthorized arrest across the state line in Century.

Geoffrey Ashley McGraw, 30, turned himself in at the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail Thursday afternoon on a third degree felony charge of kidnapping/false imprisonment. He was released on a $5,000 bond.

McGraw’s arrest stemmed from a joint operation by the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Ronald Adadm Barrow was arrested by McGraw at home on Old Flomaton Road in Century. McGraw, without jurisdiction, allegedly took Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in misdemeanor case, Keith Cameg, spokesperson for FDLE, told NorthEscambia.com. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.

McGraw was placed on an indefinite paid leave February 27 by the Flomaton Town Council. The council is expected to once again consider his employment status at an upcoming meeting on March 12.

At that late February Town Council meeting, a Century couple made multiple allegations against McGraw and his supposed actions in Florida. Cameg said he was unaware that some of the allegations were or were not involved in the FDLE and State Attorney’s investigation into McGraw.

The couple, Tracy Tedder and his wife Tabitha Tedder, told the Flomaton council that then-Police Chief McGraw pulled his weapon and illegally searched their Century home on Old Flomaton Road.

As they spoke about their claims involving McGraw, they referred to him as “McGruff”.

“Chief McGruff drawed his gun on Florida property without Florida police department being involved and goes through our home,” Tabitha Tedder said. “He illegally arrested our son-in-law and transported him back to Alabama.”

“It’s a Florida matter; we can’t comment,” Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant said about the allegations at the February meeting

Source:northescambia.com