BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A grand jury has called for the Hanceville Police Department to be abolished, calling it “more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency” following the indictment of its chief and several of his officers on corruption charges.
On Wednesday, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker announced that a grand jury had indicted Hanceville Police Chief Jason Marlin, four of his officers and one of their wives on several charges regarding drugs, corruption, using their office for personal gain and other felonies.
“This is a sad day for law enforcement but a good day for the rule of law,” Crocker said.
The following people have been arrested and charged:
- Hanceville Police Chief Jason Shane Marlin: Two counts of ethics violations (failure to file or cooperate), tampering with physical evidence
- Cody Allen Kelso: Two counts of computer tampering, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, use of official office for personal gain
- Jason Scott Wilbanks: Two counts of computer tampering, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, use of official office for personal gain
- William Andrew Shelnutt: Tampering with physical evidence
- Eric Michael Kelso: Four counts of the sale/distribution of dangerous drugs, two counts of conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime
- Donna Reed Kelso: Two counts of the sale/distribution of dangerous drugs, two counts of conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime
During the press conference, Crocker read the findings of the grand jury, who called for the Hanceville Police Department to be disbanded and that it operated as more of a “criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.”
Specifically, Crocker mentioned how the department’s evidence room was routinely used by the suspects to deal drugs and other contraband.
“This evidence room was anything but secure,” Crocker said.
Crocker said an audit would be conducted of the department to see how widespread the criminal enterprise ran.
“With these indictments, these officers find themselves on the opposite side of the law they swore to uphold,” he said.
The grand jury noted the officers’ arrests in connection to the death of dispatcher Chris Willingham, who was found dead at the department on Aug. 23. On Wednesday, results from an autopsy conducted on Willingham confirmed his death was the result of a “combined toxic effects of fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol.”
Specifically, the grand jury stated that Willingham’s death was the direct result of the department’s “negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence and disregard for human life.”
Marlin had been with the department since 2021 and was named police chief last August. He had previously been with the Birmingham Police Department for 20 years.
The case remains under investigation.
This story will be updated.