A Fort Payne police officer resigned Monday after being charged with driving under the influence following a four-wheeler wreck Saturday night that happened while he was off duty.
According to Fort Payne Assistant Police Chief Mike Grant, Lt. Will Clark, 37 of Fort Payne, turned himself in to DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies Monday morning. Clark was later released on $1,500 bond.
Grant said he accepted Clark’s resignation before his arrest.
“Will did come in and resign,” Grant said. “He’s been treated basically like anyone else. We wish him the best.”
Grant said Clark was apparently riding a four-wheeler on County Road 295, which is a dirt road, just after 11 p.m. when the incident happened.
“Evidently he was going too fast and entered a curve on a dirt road,” Grant said. “He lost control and left the roadway.”
Grant said both Clark and Missy Williams, 21, suffered minor injuries. He said both were treated at Rapid Care on Sunday.
Grant said Clark called an off-duty Fort Payne officer, and when that officer arrived, a state trooper was already on the scene.
Grant said the officer told the state trooper he would take Clark to the hospital. He said during the trip to the hospital, Clark apparently told the officer to pull his car over.
“He did tell him to stop,” Grant said. “There was apparently a disagreement in the car.”
Grant said the officer called dispatch, and on-duty officers were sent to look for Clark. He said Clark apparently called to have someone pick him up and was confirmed at home a short time later.
“We wanted to make sure he was OK and that he didn’t have a concussion, was intoxicated or wasn’t seriously hurt,” Grant said. “He was not under arrest. We made sure he did make it home.”
Grant said a warrant was issued Monday for Clark’s arrest on DUI charges signed by State Trooper Ranger Wright.
“After an investigation was conducted, we secured a warrant for DUI,” said State Trooper Lt. George Thorpe. “He was not arrested that night. We understand he did turn himself in [Monday] morning and a bond has been provided for him.”
Clark’s promotion to lieutenant and shift commander was an apparent subject of discussion with the Fort Payne City Council in early March that ultimately led to a city policy change that gave the council more authority over personnel decisions.
In a March 5 meeting, the council met with then-Police Chief David Walker and Grant in a closed meeting to discuss good name and character.
Following the closed session, then-Councilman Andrew Hairston recommended the council change the way city departments handle their policies and to allow the council more authority over personnel decisions.
The policy, passed in June, requires city department heads to inform at least one council member of personnel decisions.
No comments:
Post a Comment