Whitehouse Police Chief On Unpaid Leave
Posted/updated on: July 19, 2015 at 5:36 am
WHITEHOUSE — Two Whitehouse police officers under investigation were reinstated and a third fired on Friday and Police Chief Craig Shelton placed on unpaid administrative leave. City attorney Keith Mayo tells KETK Shelton with be allowed 30 days of unpaid leave, beginning Monday. This follows the Whitehouse City Council’s review of a third party investigation into a May 14 incident involving five city employees, including the police chief.
According the report, three allegations were brought against Shelton.
Allegation 1:
Chief Craig Shelton went to the residence of the complainant [name redacted] and physically restrained her against her will, kissed her and inappropriately touched her breast and genital areas.
Allegation 2:
Whitehouse Police Chief Craig Shelton consumed alcoholic beverage while in uniform and operated a City of Whitehouse vehicle after consuming intoxicants.
Allegation 3:
Whitehouse Police Chief Craig Shelton incited employees of the Whitehouse Police Department to violence.
The independent investigator determined there was sufficient evidence to support violations of three policies associated with allegations 1 and 3: personal conduct, line of duty and violence in the workplace. The city will review the allegations and will notify Shelton on or before 30 days. Shelton has been indicted on a misdemeanor assault charge.
Fire Chief and Acting Public Information Officer Madison Johnson says Officer Shawn Johnson was offered the option Thursday to resign or be terminated. The officer had until 9:00am to respond, but neither he nor his attorney contacted the city with a decision. He was terminated Friday afternoon. The fire chief also says two officers were brought back to the force, Captain Curtis Dinger and Detective Scott Bradley. No decision has been released on Whitehouse Police Chief Craig Shelton, but one is expected at some point on Friday. The case dates to a May incident involving several city employees. City Manager Kevin Huckabee returned to work Friday on a probationary basis.
