On Tuesday, Oct. 14, at approximately 10 p.m., Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant M. Jistel performed a traffic stop on Stated Highway 274 in Seven Points. While searching the vehicle, Jistel located a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamines. Charles Harkins a white male from the Seven Points area was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1 gram. Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1 gram is punishable up to 2 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Harkins remains in the Henderson County Jail on a $5,500 bond.
((Editor’s Note: Police officials have beeped out the video where officers verbalize personal information such as driver’s license numbers and phone numbers. The video also contains graphic language.))
UPDATED 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13: Edited to reflect that in the video, Hutchison also says he pulled Rodgers over for an expired registration.
This photo collage of Jessica Rodgers’ injuries following her arrest on traffic warrants in Athens circulated on social media last week.
By Michael V. Hannigan
An Athens woman is saying the police department used excessive force during her arrest on traffic warrants Monday, Oct. 6, leaving her with facial bruises, scrapes on her right shoulder, a black eye and cuts above her eye according to her personal injury attorney.
Athens police officials say the woman would not have gotten hurt if she had complied with the officer’s directions. Get Injury Answers in San Diego regarding such cases where the officials claimed to have given themselves the authority to hurt people.
Jessica Rodgers, 25, said she had just finished work and picked up her three children (ages 7, 4, 1) from her mother’s house when she was pulled over by Athens Patrolman Jonathan Hutchison for making a turn without using her signal and an expired registration. She was within sight of her home when she stopped.
Rodgers told HCN she does not believe she made an illegal turn, saying she watched the officer follow her for a few blocks and so she was driving very carefully. According to a Houston DUI Lawyer ” Jessica was not under the influence of a substance which as claimed by the police officer who later retracted the claim.”
Athens Police Chief Buddy Hill said the traffic stop started out normally at about 9:30 p.m., with Hutchison telling Rodgers why he pulled her over. As the process continued, he also told Rodgers her car registration was out of date, her driver’s license was out of date, and her driver’s license had the wrong address. Hutchison then went back to his police cruiser to check Rodgers out on the computer. Fighting your ticket is the only way you might get it dismissed. By paying your ticket, you are admitting guilt and essentially guaranteeing that points will be assessed against you and your driver license. In most traffic ticket cases, Florida Ticket Firm can help you avoid points, driving school and court. Why hassle with your traffic ticket when you can hire Florida Ticket Firm to handle it for you? Florida Ticket Firm can help.For more details info visit our Homepage.
After that, things became heated.
When Hutchison returned to Rodgers’ vehicle he told her she had outstanding warrants and ordered her to step out of her vehicle to be arrested. The three warrants were for traffic violations. If you are charged with the possession and/or sale of illegal drugs, the first step you must take is to find an experienced and reliable criminal defense attorney, click to read more about best attorney for drug crime here.Continue reading “Athens Woman Claims Police Used Excessive Force”
On Friday, Oct. 10, Deputy Jodie Sorrells of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a red Harley Davidson motorcycle near the intersection of FM 316 and Hwy 198 in Payne Springs. The operator of the motorcycle did not have a driver’s license and first gave a false name and date of birth to Deputy Sorrells. Further investigation found the subject to be in possession of a quantity of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine and usable amount of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. After being taken into custody, the subject was later identified as Lawrence Radacin, 38. Radacin was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group I < 1 gram (a state jail felony which carries a punishment of confinement for not less than 180 days or more than 2 years and a possible fine not to exceed $10,000). Possesion of Marijuana < 2 oz.( a class B misdemeanor) and Failure To Identify ( a class B misdemeanor)
He was transported to Henderson County Justice Center in Athens. His bond had not been set at press time.
On Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigator Wick Gabbard obtained a narcotics search warrant for a residence in the Luther Lane Trailer park in Gun Barrel City. The search warrant was issued by Henderson County Justice of the Peace Milton Adams and authorized the search of the residence for methamphetamine.
Investigators Wick Gabbard, Kay Langford, Lt. Charlie Severn, and Deputies Brad Beddingfiel, John Daniels and Daniel Wright executed the search warrant at approximately 8:30 p.m.
Investigators seized a quantity methamphetamine and Xanax inside the residence. The suspected narcotics will be submitted to the DPS Crime Lab for analysis.
Jeffery Wayne Hardwick was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1 gram and Possession ofa Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 less than 28 grams. PCS PGl less than 1 gram is a State Jail Felony and is punishable by confinement in a State Jail for a term of 180 days to 2 years and up to a $10,000 fine. PCS PG 3 less than 28 grams is a class A misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail for up to a year and up to a $4,000 fine.
Bond was set at $5,000 on the PCS PGl and $1500 on the PCS PG3 by Judge Randy Daniel Henderson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brad Beddingfield and Investigator Kay Langford conducted a traffic stop on County Road 4117 for a traffic violation. During the stop Tori Gamblin was identified as being the operator of the vehicle. While conducting a search of the vehicle suspected narcotics and marijuana was located in the vehicle. Gamblin was placed under arrest and taken to the Henderson County Jail, where she was booked in on Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 less than 1 gram, a State Jail Felony and Possession of Marijuana less than 202, a Class “B” Misdemeanor. If convicted of the State Jail Felony charge Brittany could face up to 2 years in a State Jail Facility and up to a 10,000 fine.
