Post by gagal on Jun 29, 2007 8:28:23 GMT -5
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Originally printed in Walker County Messenger, 04/03/2007
Authorities have arrested LaFayette Police Department Cpl. Harbin “Ben” Chaffin in connection with the case of missing 911 dispatcher Theresa Parker.
Chaffin, an officer with more than 10 years of experience, was charged around 9 p.m. on Monday for making false statements to an officer during the course of an official investigation, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said Tuesday afternoon at a news conference.
Officials declined to give specifics about the charge or arrest.
Alongside Wilson at the conference were Georgia Bureau of Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jerry Scott, Special Agent Dan Sims and LaFayette Public Safety Director Tommy Freeman.
Scott called the arrest “significant.”
“We’ve got a lady who has been missing for nearly two weeks, so any pWalker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, white shirt, talks to reporters at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. (Messenger photo/Matt Ledger)
rogress is significant,” Scott said. “Other than to say we have made an arrest related to this case, but not directly related, into locating Mrs. Parker; pretty much that’s all the bureau is going to comment. We have made an arrest pertaining to this case.
“The investigation is continuing,” Scott said. “We’re making progress on the case and hopefully we’ll have a resolution in the relatively near future.”
The FBI has also assisted in the investigation, Wilson said.
Parker and her husband Sam, a sergeant with the LaFayette Police, were in the proces
Jonathan Wilson, brother-in-law to Theresa Parker, talks to reporters Tuesday afternoon following a news conference. (Messenger photo/Matt Ledger) s of divorcing. Sam Parker has not been charged, he said.
Chaffin and Sam Parker work the same shift, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., but not necessarily the same days, Freeman said, adding that he believes the two are friends.
Freeman said Chaffin not only faces the felony charge but is under suspension and will undergo an internal investigation as well. The felony charge carries a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of one to five years in prison, according to state law.
“Unfortunately one of my officers was arrested with what he’s been charged with and that’s very unfortunate,” Freeman said.
As for Parker, he has not been charged and has extended his vacation into next week, he said.
“Officially, he is taking sick leave time due to his wanting try to reconcile with whatever is ailing (him) and helping him deal with the disappearance of his wife,” he said. “I thought it was best for him to take a vacation or sick leave time in order for him to deal with that.”
Freeman made assurances that he and his agency have been “fully cooperating with the sheriff’s department and the GBI in every aspect of this case.”
Polygraph, or “lie detector,” tests have been administered during the investigation but GBI representatives would not comment on the goals or results of the tests.
On CNN’s Nancy Grace show Friday night, Sheriff Wilson said Sam Parker has not taken a lie detector test.
Chaffin was taken to the Whitfield County jail “for his own safety and for the safety of our staff here at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office,” Wilson said.
Officers at the session did not elaborate on the cause of the charges. Information is still lean as investigators asked for patience from the media and community.
“There are many things that we are still unable to talk to you about,” Wilson said. “There are many questions that will still remain unanswered because we need to protect the integrity of the investigation.
The work is still going on at the office and in the field, Wilson said. Investigators are poring over data while workers are pumping water from a 3/4-acre pond on private property near the couple’s Cordell Road residence in LaFayette. Divers inspected the pond on Saturday, but lowering the water will ensure officers have done a thorough inspection of the water while protecting investigators.
“This particular pond has a lot of brush in it, trees and stumps around the edges, and they were afraid they were going to get tangled up in it and pose a safety hazard to the divers,” he said.
Wilson said the pond should be low enough to fully inspect by Tuesday afternoon.
The long days are beginning to weigh heavy on investigators, Wilson said.
“Just because we’re not out walking through the woods doesn’t mean that we’re not working hard,” Wilson said. “Many of us are working 16-18 hour days and have been for over 10 days. Many investigators are very fatigued, not only in body but in mind and in spirit.”
On behalf of the family and the law enforcement agencies involved in the search for Parker, Wilson thanked the media for getting the story out to the community and nation.
The investigative team has not given up hope but the optimism that Parker will be found alive may not hold up much longer, he said.
“We realistically know that as each day goes by that our chances of finding her may diminish greatly,” Wilson said.
Originally printed in Walker County Messenger, 04/03/2007
Authorities have arrested LaFayette Police Department Cpl. Harbin “Ben” Chaffin in connection with the case of missing 911 dispatcher Theresa Parker.
Chaffin, an officer with more than 10 years of experience, was charged around 9 p.m. on Monday for making false statements to an officer during the course of an official investigation, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said Tuesday afternoon at a news conference.
Officials declined to give specifics about the charge or arrest.
Alongside Wilson at the conference were Georgia Bureau of Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jerry Scott, Special Agent Dan Sims and LaFayette Public Safety Director Tommy Freeman.
Scott called the arrest “significant.”
“We’ve got a lady who has been missing for nearly two weeks, so any pWalker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, white shirt, talks to reporters at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. (Messenger photo/Matt Ledger)
rogress is significant,” Scott said. “Other than to say we have made an arrest related to this case, but not directly related, into locating Mrs. Parker; pretty much that’s all the bureau is going to comment. We have made an arrest pertaining to this case.
“The investigation is continuing,” Scott said. “We’re making progress on the case and hopefully we’ll have a resolution in the relatively near future.”
The FBI has also assisted in the investigation, Wilson said.
Parker and her husband Sam, a sergeant with the LaFayette Police, were in the proces
Jonathan Wilson, brother-in-law to Theresa Parker, talks to reporters Tuesday afternoon following a news conference. (Messenger photo/Matt Ledger) s of divorcing. Sam Parker has not been charged, he said.
Chaffin and Sam Parker work the same shift, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., but not necessarily the same days, Freeman said, adding that he believes the two are friends.
Freeman said Chaffin not only faces the felony charge but is under suspension and will undergo an internal investigation as well. The felony charge carries a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of one to five years in prison, according to state law.
“Unfortunately one of my officers was arrested with what he’s been charged with and that’s very unfortunate,” Freeman said.
As for Parker, he has not been charged and has extended his vacation into next week, he said.
“Officially, he is taking sick leave time due to his wanting try to reconcile with whatever is ailing (him) and helping him deal with the disappearance of his wife,” he said. “I thought it was best for him to take a vacation or sick leave time in order for him to deal with that.”
Freeman made assurances that he and his agency have been “fully cooperating with the sheriff’s department and the GBI in every aspect of this case.”
Polygraph, or “lie detector,” tests have been administered during the investigation but GBI representatives would not comment on the goals or results of the tests.
On CNN’s Nancy Grace show Friday night, Sheriff Wilson said Sam Parker has not taken a lie detector test.
Chaffin was taken to the Whitfield County jail “for his own safety and for the safety of our staff here at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office,” Wilson said.
Officers at the session did not elaborate on the cause of the charges. Information is still lean as investigators asked for patience from the media and community.
“There are many things that we are still unable to talk to you about,” Wilson said. “There are many questions that will still remain unanswered because we need to protect the integrity of the investigation.
The work is still going on at the office and in the field, Wilson said. Investigators are poring over data while workers are pumping water from a 3/4-acre pond on private property near the couple’s Cordell Road residence in LaFayette. Divers inspected the pond on Saturday, but lowering the water will ensure officers have done a thorough inspection of the water while protecting investigators.
“This particular pond has a lot of brush in it, trees and stumps around the edges, and they were afraid they were going to get tangled up in it and pose a safety hazard to the divers,” he said.
Wilson said the pond should be low enough to fully inspect by Tuesday afternoon.
The long days are beginning to weigh heavy on investigators, Wilson said.
“Just because we’re not out walking through the woods doesn’t mean that we’re not working hard,” Wilson said. “Many of us are working 16-18 hour days and have been for over 10 days. Many investigators are very fatigued, not only in body but in mind and in spirit.”
On behalf of the family and the law enforcement agencies involved in the search for Parker, Wilson thanked the media for getting the story out to the community and nation.
The investigative team has not given up hope but the optimism that Parker will be found alive may not hold up much longer, he said.
“We realistically know that as each day goes by that our chances of finding her may diminish greatly,” Wilson said.