Morehouse police chief charged with assault

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | November 25, 2008 | Atlanta Journal-Constitution

[WaterBoard]

Morehouse College’s chief of police, Vernon Worthy, has been charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment and pointing a gun at someone after a hunting confrontation in Middle Georgia.

[WaterBoard]

Morehouse College's chief of police Vernon Worthy

Rooks claimed he was in a deer stand on the property on November 11 when he saw someone enter the field. He said he climbed down from the stand, took off a camouflage mask, slung his rifle over his shoulder and approached the man.

Rooks testified Worthy then pulled a pistol on him and ordered him to lie face down on the ground. He said Worthy forced him at gunpoint to roll away from his rifle and toss away his cell phone.

“He told me ‘I will blow your (expletive deleted) brains out if you try anything’,” Rooks said of Worthy. He testified he feared for his life, started praying aloud only to hear Worthy say, “God is the only (expletive deleted) who can help you right now”.

Sgt. Shane Moore of the Lamar sheriff’s office testified he responded to the scene and found Rooks face down on the ground with Worthy standing over him. Moore described Worthy as irate.

DNR ranger Keith Page also arrived at the scene. He testified Worthy admitted to him he had pulled a handgun on Rooks and forced him to the ground.

“Mr. Worthy wanted me to arrest Mr. Rooks but it turned out Worthy was on the wrong land,” Page testified. He described Rooks as being pretty shaken up. “I could tell something had happened. He talked about his wife and kids. I could tell he was scared. He was not aggressive at all,” Page said.

Page also took issue with Worthy pulling a gun. “There was no reason for a gun to be pointed at Rooks. I’ve approached hundreds of deer hunters and have never had to pull my sidearm,” Page said.

Worthy’s attorney Lynn Whatley questioned Page’s experience. “You’re saying you have better judgement than a 42-year police officer,” he asked. “In the woods, yes,” Page responded.

Barnesville municipal judge Jim Granum testified he was visiting caretaker Harris and went to the scene with him. Rooks had called and left a message for Harris from his deer stand when he first saw Worthy.

Granum said Rooks was on his knees looking “extremely frightened” when he arrived. He described Worthy as “extremely aggressive and very angry”.

“I saw things that frightened me a lot. Rooks was on his knees. Worthy had a gun. Rooks was not free to move or free to leave,” Granum said.

[CodeToad]

Just because they are “sworn officers” does not mean they are above dangerous and bad human behavior.

[starlifter]

Just great. Another thug cop.

[doodad]

So who called the cops?

[LFOD]

Another overblown buffoon of a cop who should not be entrusted with anything more than a stick.
He is obviously used to threatening people and pushing them around without retribution.
I believe he will get off the hook because he is a cop.

[shadowgovernment]

believe he will get off the hook because he is a cop.
>>>>>>>...............
please insert “Black” between is and cop.

[LFOD]

I stand corrected......

[ar10]

He’s training to be on Mugabe ‘08’s civilian security force.

[ZX12R]

Just great. Another thug cop.

He just wanted to go home safe to his family. (sarc)

And besides, there were no dogs around to shoot.

[thefactor]

wow. defense lawyers really are the lowest form of scum on this planet. this cop acted badly from what the article says.

[OldNavyVet]

“I believe he will get off the hook because he is a cop.”

If this goes to a jury, the cop is toast.

[WaterBoard]

The problem with this case is the dual system of justice.

Do you really think that if any one hear was charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment and pointing a gun at someone that your bail would only be $5,000?

Laws for thee and laws for me.

[thefactor]

if it was a highly respected doctor in the community or someone similar, yes i do think the bail would be similar. this guy is no flight risk and no one got hurt.

if he's found guilty, his career will be over and he'll be a pariah. let's just wait and see what happens. there's always 3 sides to every story.

[beltfed308]

Worthy’s attorney, Lynn Whatley, says he will “vigorously defend any allegations of criminal conduct,” calling the case a “civil dispute” involving a “misunderstanding about some wild land.” “The boundary lines weren’t properly demarcated, so he detained the guy who he believed was trying to be a poacher,” he said. Rooks “was never hurt or abused in any fashion. He just was detained until they brought the sheriff and the game warden there to hear the differences of opinion” about “who had the proper authority to be on that particular portion of the land.”

Sounds like he was playing game warden while having no clue where he was. 3 sides? I doubt it very much as the wannabe "game warden" was the one trespassing.

After all...ignorance of the law is no excuse.

[thefactor]

by three sides to every story i mean these three sides:

my side, your side, and the truth.

i only mean that while the cop may have been wrong in stopping the guy, he may have held the hunter at gunpoint for some reason. maybe the cop thought he was in danger from this "poacher". it all goes to state of mind.

or, the cop could be a total psycho. either way, it'll get figured out.

[WaterBoard]

Highly respected? Debatable.

This police chief already has a complaint against him for his behavior.

“Whatley tendered as evidence two badges belonging to Worthy - one from Morehouse and one from the Atlanta Police Department with the rank of major.

Rooks’ attorney Karen Martin called Worthy’s APD badge a keepsake that is no longer current and said her investigation showed he was not POST certified. Whatley refuted that claim.

Martin also had with her a printout of a news story on a previous case in which she said Worthy was charged with acting inappropriately.”

http://www.barnesville.com/

[stylin19a]

Is a college chief of police a real police officer ?

[thefactor]

anyone in law enforcement for 42 years who DOESN'T have complaints against them would be highly suspect in my view.

but that's only taking my personal experiences into account. and showing a badge from a previous LEO job is not a big deal at all if you're retired. this guy must have been acting very badly to have gotten this reaction from the warden.

[P8riot]

But, but......only police should have guns.