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http://www.wect.com/story/15023108/goolsby

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - New video released Tuesday from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office shows a woman from Raleigh in a heated discussion with a state trooper. It’s more evidence that’s helping to paint a picture of what happened the night of a disputed DWI arrest involving a woman from Raleigh.

The woman is Gina Tessener. She and her husband, Hoyt Tessener, claim Trooper Edward Wyrick, Jr. harassed Mrs. Tessener during a traffic stop last month. Trooper Andrew Smith is also on administrative duty during the investigation, because he pulled over Mr. Tessener while he was on his way to the magistrate’s office to support his wife.

Hoyt Tessener sent a letter to Governor Bev Perdue and numerous other elected representatives and media agencies last week asking for an investigation.

Read the account from the Tesseners and watch the surveillance video

Surveillance video taken inside the Wrightsville Beach Police Department, which was released last week, shows Gina Tessener taking a breathalyzer test, where she blew a zero.

Tuesday, more surveillance video surfaced from inside the magistrate’s office at the New Hanover County Detention Center. On the tape, you can see a conversation between Mrs. Tessener and Trooper Wyrick, who seem to be arguing over the location of Tessener’s phone.

New Hanover County State Senator Thom Goolsby says he’s frustrated over what he perceives as “false allegations” against two state troopers, who have been put on administrative duty during an investigation of a recent DWI arrest.

Neither Wyrick nor Smith have any record of disciplinary action or suspensions during their time with the Highway Patrol, according to First Sgt. Jeff Gordon.

Goolsby pointed out the decision to put the troopers on administrative duty left New Hanover County short of troopers to patrol during the 4th of July weekend.

The entire text of Senator Goolsby’s letter follows:

Like most of the public, I was shocked at the allegations recently made against two local North Carolina State Troopers regarding the DWI arrest of Gina Tessener. I was sent a copy of the letter to the Governor written by Tessener’s lawyer-husband. In the letter, the husband made numerous allegations of abuse and illegal conduct against our troopers.

I read the letter with interest and concern. As an attorney who practices in our local courts, I have known these troopers for the entire time they have enforced the law in southeastern North Carolina. I have never received any complaints about them. My personal experience was that they were professional, honest and forthright.

When I learned that there was a video tape from the Detention Center, I watched it with interest. I was shocked and angered when it was apparent that the video did not represent several of the allegations made in the letter.

I have personally spoken with the Governor, Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety and the Commander of the Highway Patrol expressing my frustration over what I perceive to be false allegations. Further, because both of these troopers were immediately placed on administrative leave, our county will be short of law enforcement officers to protect the public from drunk drivers during 4th of July weekend.

It is time that someone spoke up and defended our troopers. I am doing so now.

Thom Goolsby,

NC Senator, District 9

Thanks for the laugh. Now I’m more convinced than I was the other night that these Boss Hog type of cops are dirty.

1) The other night on the video that was played on the news it was claimed, by the police department, that there was no audio in the hallways. Now all of a sudden we have audio of VERY POOR AUDIO just pop up out of no where. Hmmmmmm???? How does that work all of sudden. Heck you get better audio in a 7-Eleven security camera. At any rate I love how it’s very low. Amazing since this is jail! Most jails I have seen not only have good video but outstanding audio. However, in this instance there is very little audio. I be willing to bet if she was guilty, then we would hear the audio with no problem at all.

2) Why did the officer giver the woman a second BAC test after she passed the first time??? That’s illegal and caught on tape. Funny how the police have said NOTHING about the two test. THAT ALONE is enough to get the cop that did the test fired. Oh yeah and the audio is really good where they did the test. Like I said in my first point. The things that make you go hmmmmmmm???

3) Why did the police pull over the husband when he was following the other officer to the Magistrate court? You KNOW that is complete set up. Anyone with half a brain knows this. Only an officer, with around 70 IQ, would believe the majority of people would believe this nonsense.

4) Finally the fact that the police are running to the media days after, with audio all of a sudden, that was not in the hallways tapes before, tells me they are guilty of what the couple is saying. It’s EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL of the police to go run to the media instead of handling this in a court of law. This also indicates to me they know they are up the creek. Their behavior is what I would expect from the police on the show the Dukes of Hazard.

I hope all three officers lose there jobs at the very least. Possibly prosecute two of them for civil rights violations and conduct unbecoming of an officer. The police are suppose to follow the law and not act above it. Their behavior of running to the media, instead of being silent, confirms they are guilty.