Latest news with #CullmanCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cullman authorities hold news conference ahead of Rock the South
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — Members of the Cullman Police Department, Cullman County Sheriff's Office and Cullman County District Attorney's Office are holding a news conference ahead of next week's Rock the South festival. The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. and can be seen in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cullman Co. officials provide update on Rock the South ahead of event
CULLMAN, Ala. (WHNT) – Several Cullman County officials held a news conference on Friday ahead of the upcoming Rock the South event beginning on June 19. The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Cullman Police Department and District Attorney Champ Crocker provided safety and traffic information for those planning to attend the festival. News 19 attended this morning's news conference. You can watch it in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Alabama city leaders vote to replace and rebuild 'corrupt' police department
An Alabama city plans to replace and rebuild its police department after a grand jury indicted its chief and four other officers and recommended abolishing the small force. The Hanceville City Council voted unanimously Monday to suspend department operations and search for a new chief who will build out the force. Mayor Jim Sawyer placed the department's entire staff on administrative leave last month after the grand jury determined that it 'operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency' and that it is 'an ongoing threat to public safety.' The Cullman County Sheriff's Office will continue to handle law enforcement duties in Hanceville, about 45 miles north of Birmingham, until the new force is operational, officials said. Former police chief Shane Marlin, four officers and one of the officers' wives were indicted on charges that included mishandling or tampering with evidence and using performance-enhancing drugs. The six are scheduled to be arraigned this month. Marlin, 51, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, and phone numbers listed for him appear to have been disconnected. The police department employed about 12 people, officials said. The grand jury's findings were prompted by the death of Christopher Michael Willingham, 49, a 911 dispatcher who was found dead at work. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences ruled his death an accidental overdose from fentanyl and other drugs. The grand jury did not charge the officers in connection with his death. Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said at a news conference last month that the death was 'the direct result' of the police department's 'negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence and disregard for human life.' He also said that there had been unfettered access to the evidence room, that some evidence was unusable and that any pending cases would go through a review process. At the news conference, Crocker showed photos of a hole in the wall of the room and a broomstick that he said was used to jimmy open the door. Crocker released preliminary results Monday of an audit of the evidence room. Among the missing items were: 1.5 grams of cocaine, 67 oxycodone pills, 4 Adderall pills, 0.5 grams of heroin, a .25-caliber handgun and about 30 undocumented firearms, according to a copy of the audit obtained by NBC News. 'These results of the evidence audit are shocking but not surprising,' Crocker wrote to the mayor in a letter Monday. 'The security camera footage revealed how unsecure the evidence room was — with various individuals going in and out, routinely sticking a broomstick through the hole in the wall to gain access.' Crocker also wrote in the letter that after Willingham's death, he recommended that Marlin, who was still the police chief, call the State Bureau of Investigation for assistance. But Marlin declined to do so, he said. Crocker said he then asked the State Bureau of Investigation to review Willingham's death. At the City Council meeting Monday night, some people said they welcomed the decision to rebuild the department. Others said it was unfair to employees who had done nothing wrong. Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said the policing provided by his office costs $25,000 a month. This article was originally published on
NBC News
11-03-2025
- NBC News
Alabama city leaders vote to replace and rebuild 'corrupt' police department
An Alabama city plans to replace and rebuild its police department after a grand jury indicted its chief and four other officers and recommended abolishing the small force. The Hanceville City Council voted unanimously Monday to suspend department operations and search for a new chief who will build out the force. Mayor Jim Sawyer placed the department's entire staff on administrative leave last month after the grand jury determined that it 'operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency' and that it is 'an ongoing threat to public safety.' The Cullman County Sheriff's Office will continue to handle law enforcement duties in Hanceville until the new force is operational, officials said. Former police chief Shane Marlin, four officers and one of the officers' wives were indicted on charges that included mishandling or tampering with evidence and using performance-enhancing drugs. The six are scheduled to be arraigned this month. Marlin, 51, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, and phone numbers listed for him appear to have been disconnected. The police department employed about 12 people, officials said. The grand jury's findings were prompted by the death of Christopher Michael Willingham, 49, a 911 dispatcher who was found dead at work. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences ruled his death an accidental overdose from fentanyl and other drugs. The grand jury did not charge the officers in connection with his death. Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said at a news conference last month that the death was 'the direct result' of the police department's 'negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence and disregard for human life.' He also said that there had been unfettered access to the evidence room, that some evidence was unusable and that any pending cases would go through a review process. At the news conference, Crocker showed photos of a hole in the wall of the room and a broomstick that he said was used to jimmy open the door. Crocker released preliminary results Monday of an audit of the evidence room. Among the missing items were: 1.5 grams of cocaine, 67 oxycodone pills, 4 Adderall pills, 0.5 grams of heroin, a .25-caliber handgun and about 30 undocumented firearms, according to a copy of the audit obtained by NBC News. 'These results of the evidence audit are shocking but not surprising,' Crocker wrote to the mayor in a letter Monday. 'The security camera footage revealed how unsecure the evidence room was — with various individuals going in and out, routinely sticking a broomstick through the hole in the wall to gain access.' Crocker also wrote in the letter that after Willingham's death, he recommended that Marlin, who was still the police chief, call the State Bureau of Investigation for assistance. But Marlin declined to do so, he said. Crocker said he then asked the State Bureau of Investigation to review Willingham's death. At the City Council meeting Monday night, some people said they welcomed the decision to rebuild the department. Others said it was unfair to employees who had done nothing wrong.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Preliminary results of Hanceville PD audit shows missing drugs, undocumented guns
HANCEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The preliminary results of an audit of the Hanceville Police Department's evidence room have been released, according to the district attorney's office. A release sent on Monday states that an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation completed the audit. Below, you can find a table with the approximate weight or count of each substance missing from the evidence room: Methamphetamines/amphetamines: 216 grams Cocaine 1.5 grams Oxycodone pills: 67 Adderall pills: 4 Heroin: .5 grams Clonazepam pill: 4 Gabepentin pills: 39 Tizandine (muscle relaxer): 5 Methocarbamol (muscle relaxer): 5 Suboxone strip: 1 Firearms: one .25 caliber handgun According to the agent, the approximation is based on the item description that is detailed on each evidence folder. 'Please note that not all item descriptions listed a weight for the substance that was inside. There are additional items missing, but the weight is unknown based on the information available,' the release read. Data from the APDH shows that Hanceville has the most 'drug overdose EMS calls per capita' in the state at 7.65 per 10,000. That is compared to the next highest: Warrior (5.32), Adamsville (4.73), Anniston (3.64) and Bessemer (3.05). The audit also showed that there were about 30 undocumented firearms discovered in the evidence room. District Attorney Champ Crocker stated in the preliminary report that, following the immediate aftermath of Chris Willingham's death, he recommended Chief Jason Marlin call SBI, however, Marlin declined. Crocker called SBI on August 30, and the case was assigned to an agent. On September 20, the district attorney said Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer and Councilman Kenneth Cornelius delivered security footage to the Cullman County Sheriff's Office for safekeeping. Crocker said he finds the results of this audit 'shocking but not surprising,' as the security footage shows how unsecure the evidence room was with individuals going in and out, using a broomstick through a hole in the wall to gain access. 'I am satisfied with what the Cullman County Sheriff's Office has done to protect the citizens of Hanceville in recent weeks. If you and the council reinstate the Hanceville Police Department, I suggest that all felony matters be handled by the Cullman County Sheriff's Office and/or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA),' the DA said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
