GBI investigation clears two E-911 dispatchers

Two Lincoln County dispatchers have been cleared of an allegation of felony obstruction of an officer by the District Attorney's Office for the Toombs Judicial Circuit.

"I was informed Friday, August 15, that the DA's office found no criminal activity in an allegation of felony obstruction of an officer lodged by Lt. David Stevens of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office on February 22, 2008," stated Ernie Doss, director of the Lincoln County Office of Public Safety.

The two dispatchers were Adrienne Elam and Hitasca Wynn.

"The entire event seems to be based on a misunderstanding and a rush to judgment on the part of Lt. Stevens," Doss stated.

According to an incident report filed by Lt. Stevens, he and Investigator Hudson Bell telephoned the E- 911 center to have dispatch run a tag number. The officers later stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Christopher Crite. During the stop, Crite's cell phone rang.

Stevens wrote: "The person on the other end, who said she was his (Crite's) sister, told the passenger, Josh Whimbush, that we had run the tag earlier. I talked to the sister, and she said the same thing to me. When I asked her who said I run the tag earlier, she stated that she wasn't going to tell me who called her.

"The tag was run over the phone and not broadcasted over the net. The only people who had access to this information were the two female dispatchers in 911, Investigator Hudson Bell, and myself."

Director Doss said that when he learned of the allegation of misconduct, he instructed Communications Supervisor Leighton Taylor to conduct a preliminary investigation and report back to him as soon as possible.

"Taylor interviewed both dispatchers and listened to all of the recordings for the date and time in question. We record all of the telephone and radio traffic that occurs in the 911 center. Taylor's preliminary investigation did not support Lt. Steven's allegation," said the director.

Doss and County Commission Chairman Walker Norman then contacted the DA's office to request that the GBI conduct an investigation of the allegation.

"Over a period of several weeks, the GBI interviewed Crite, Whimbush, and Crite's sister, Shenithia Crite," said Doss. "All three denied knowing anyone in 911, and all three denied receiving a call from anyone prior to or after the traffic stop concerning any information about sheriff's office activities.

"The female, who spoke to Lt. Stevens on the phone during the traffic stop, reported that she had been told by one of the men in the car that an unmarked police car had closely followed the subject's car earlier in the evening, and she told Lt. Stevens that she wondered why he didn't pull the car over then," Doss continued.

Last week, the DA's office notified the GBI by letter that "...it appears that no criminal activity has taken place" and the GBI should close its case.

In closing, Director Doss said, "I want to thank both the GBI and the DA's office for their diligent efforts and the fair manner in which they conducted this investigation. I am pleased that both my department and employees have been cleared of any wrong doing."