ENTERPRISE: Congratulations to the graduates of the 8th Session of the Wiregrass Law Enforcement Academy! We extend a special congratulations to our newest Enterprise Police Department Officers:
Officer Thomas Riley
Officer Clinton Wise
We are incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work. Please join us in congratulating them on this achievement and in welcoming them to the Enterprise Police Department. We look forward to the positive impact they will make in our community!
The Wiregrass Law Enforcement Academy is held at the Wiregrass Training Center in Dothan. A dream and vision of former Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish and Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams for the construction of the Wiregrass Training Center. Made greatly possible by Dr. Barbara Alford and the members of the Wiregrass Foundation.
Shortly after completion Chief Parrish retired and passed the wand to Will Benny as Dothan Police Chief. Some said that Dothan would never get a police academy. But they did not know Wil Benny.
When Will Benny took the reigns of Dothan Police Chief he went to work on getting a police academy in Dothan at the Wiregrass Training Center.
And the 8th graduating class was just held at the Dothan Alabama Police Academy held at the Wiregrass Training Facility.
COFFEE COUNTY, — Two Coffee County women were arrested after deputies say the pair attempted to flee the scene of a crash and later gave conflicting statements about who had been behind the wheel.
According to the incident report, the women were traveling together when their vehicle ran off the roadway and into a ditch. Instead of calling for help, authorities say they left the area on foot.
Deputies later located both women and began questioning them about the crash.
Investigators say Erin Slusher initially claimed she was driving. However, after she was taken into custody, Slusher changed her story and stated that Cammie Nugent had actually been the driver. Deputies then questioned Nugent, who the report says “initially let Erin take the blame with no remorse, then continued to lie.”
The report further noted that “it was evident that Cammie was not in any condition to drive” at the time of the incident.
Slusher was charged with hit and run/leaving the scene of an accident and obstruction. Nugent was charged with failure to maintain lane in addition to hit and run/leaving the scene of an accident.
Both women were booked into the Coffee County Jail and were later released.
Plea Deal Reached in Dothan Cold Case Murder Trial
DOTHAN . — A plea agreement has closed the book on a 2010 cold case after Shonqueze Tyrell Franklin admitted guilt in the shooting death of Grace Bridges.
Franklin, whose trial began Monday, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 20-year sentence with a three-year split. He will serve those three years day-for-day in state prison. He had previously faced a murder charge.
Jurors deliberated for two days but remained fifty-fifty, prompting renewed talks that resulted in the plea. Franklin was arrested in April after a man serving time on an unrelated conviction told investigators Franklin had confessed to the crime years earlier. That witness testified this week.
Bridges, 69, was found shot outside her South Park Avenue furniture store in March 2010. Franklin was 17 at the time, and his identity was not made public until his arrest in this case.
The plea brings an end to a case that has weighed on the Dothan community for nearly 15 years
The future of a nearly 16-year-old murder case remains uncertain as jurors struggle to reach a verdict in the trial of Shonqueze Franklin, the man accused of killing longtime business owner Grace Bridges.
Franklin is charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Bridges, who operated a small furniture store on South Park Avenue. If found guilty of murder, he could face a life sentence. But after hours of deliberation on Wednesday, the jury reported they could not come to a unanimous decision
Houston County Circuit Judge Henry D. “Butch” Binford instructed the group to return Thursday morning and continue their discussions, reminding them that another trial would present the same evidence they have already heard.
It is unclear whether the disagreement among jurors centers around convicting Franklin of murder, a lesser charge such as manslaughter, or whether they are leaning toward acquittal.
According to multiple sources, there were conversations about a possible plea agreement while deliberations were underway, though those talks did not produce any resolution.
Prosecutors, led by Assistant District Attorney Michaela Cochrane, presented primarily circumstantial evidence and testimony claiming Franklin admitted involvement to someone he knew. The defense countered that the case lacked solid proof and emphasized that several other potential suspects were investigated over the years.
Bridges, 69, dedicated many years of her life to nursing before turning her love for home furnishings into a small business venture. Her family described her as joyful and proud of the work she built.
Her life was cut short on a spring afternoon in 2010 when an individual entered her store and shot her during what authorities believe was a robbery attempt gone wrong. The case finally moved forward when Franklin, who was 17 at the time of the killing, was indicted earlier this year, reopening the chance for justice in a case that haunted the community for years.
As jurors resume deliberations, whether that justice comes now — or must wait for another trial — remains to be seen.
If you have a loved one who has a tendency to wander, this program can give you some peace of mind.
Whether it’s a child with special needs, an elderly family member, or anyone who may become disoriented or lost, this tool has helped bring people home safely time and time again. Multiple deputies and support staff are trained in ground and aerial search operations.
MAKE THE CALL TO DALE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
A huge thank-you to the Dale County Sheriff’s Office for sharing about Project Lifesaver. It’s an incredible program that brings peace of mind to families and protection to some of our most vulnerable neighbors.
Call the Sheriffs Office for more information and ways to donate to this safety program.
Officer Thomas Riley
