A former veteran Varnell police officer has been indicted for first degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving in the death of contract newspaper carrier Leon Thurman.
District Attorney Bert Poston said a Whitfield County grand jury indicted James Smith today.
Smith’s attorney, Ralph Hinman, could not be reached at his office this afternoon. A phone number for Smith could not be found.
“The parties have agreed to a $5,000 bond, and Smith is going to turn himself into the jail and post bond some time tomorrow (Friday),” Poston said. “The case will be scheduled for an arraignment some time later this year, but I do not have that exact date yet.”
Thurman’s family sued the city of Varnell in Whitfield County Superior Court for $750,000 after Smith crashed his patrol vehicle into Thurman’s Dodge Neon in the early hours of March 5 while Thurman was delivering papers for The Daily Citizen. The case was eventually settled.
Varnell Police Chief Lyle Grant has said an internal investigation showed Smith violated several department policies including speeding while not on an emergency call. He did not say how fast Smith was driving. Smith resigned before the Georgia State Patrol’s investigation was complete.
Family members said Smith and Thurman were friends.
Local News
October 25, 2012
Former Varnell police officer indicted
- Local News
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Police and Fire Games: Dalton firefighter snags second place
Mason Martin, back right, cheers on his mother, Serena Martin, an officer with the Dalton Police Department, as she pushes a patrol car as part of an obstacle course to determine the “Toughest Overall” during the Georgia Police and Fire Games on Monday at the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department’s firing range. (Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen)
A seasoned Dalton firefighter placed second in the Toughest Overall Competitor event at the Police and Fire Games in Dalton on Monday.
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