Former Flomaton Police Chief Back In Florida Courtroom

June 21, 2012

The former Flomaton, Ala., police chief was back in a Pensacola courtroom this week.

Judge Michael Allen granted a request by Geoffrey Ashley McGraw, 30, and his attorney, Earnest Ray White, to delay his trial until August. McGraw has pleaded not guilty in Escambia County (Fla.) Circuit Court to a felony charge of kidnapping/false imprisonment. He remains free from jail on a $5,000 bond.

McGraw’s arrest stemmed from a joint operation by the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Ronald Adam Barrow was arrested by McGraw at a home on Old Flomaton Road in Century — 0.177 miles from the Alabama state line. McGraw, without jurisdiction, allegedly took  Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in a misdemeanor case. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.

McGraw was placed on leave by the Flomaton Town Council on February 27 and subsequently fired on March 12, just four days after his arrest.

Comments

8 Responses to “Former Flomaton Police Chief Back In Florida Courtroom”

  1. tambo on July 18th, 2012 12:56 pm

    a search warrant!! can anyone tell me if there is an address on a warrent??????I think there is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. tambo on July 11th, 2012 7:35 am

    to tellingitlikeitis!!!!!I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. My2Cents on June 22nd, 2012 11:49 pm

    I am NOT making excuses for Mr. Barrow by any means. If he was in Century, Florida and NOT in Flomaton, Alabama please tell me what right did Mr. MrGraw have to cross the state line to obtain Mr. Barrow? NONE! Personally, it could have been just the fact that Mr. Barrow knew he was wanted, seen Mr. McGraw, and knew that Mr. McGraw couldn’t by law cross the state line to obtain him. Rather or not that is a fact none of us will ever know. Either way Mr. McGraw broke the law, just as Mr. Barrow did in Flomaton, Alabama. Does that make it right for Mr. McGraw to take the law in his own hands. I think not! Therefore, if anyone else is held accountable for their actions, so should Mr. McGraw. Just because at one time Mr. McGraw wore a patch on his shirt doesn’t make him special. He should also be help accountable for his actions. So in my opinion, there is NO poor pitiful me for Mr. McGraw, he knew the laws, because that is a part of his job description. Therefore, it only makes him look more like the idiot in this situation in my opinion.

  4. 429SCJ on June 22nd, 2012 8:13 pm

    I drove from Brewton to Atmore the other day and things just felt different, better.

    Chief Thompson’s administration seems to have ushered in a new era, you can feel it in the air.

    I hope they are not too hard on Mr McGraw, give him a chance to go someplace else to start over.

  5. tellingitlikeitus on June 22nd, 2012 6:16 am

    I use to work for this man and after what all the employees had to deal with all I can say is oh how j love karma. Such a lovely lady. McGraw knew what he was doing but failed to follow the rules.. he should.be held accountable just like everyone.else has to be. People who work for the public are there to serve.and.protect.. use ethics and morals. And to show accountability and responsibility.

  6. Well on June 21st, 2012 9:30 pm

    Good luck!!!

    and i hope you don’t need it.

  7. Ben Thar on June 21st, 2012 3:41 pm

    Wishy, meet Washy. That’s just the way I feel about it….maybe.

  8. JM on June 21st, 2012 9:22 am

    I have such mixed feelings about this. Officers do have to learn they have rules
    they have to go by, or it will always be complete chaos. We wish all officers
    were so trust worthy that we could just leave them to do their jobs, BUT
    AS THEY ARE HUMAN, WE CAN NOT!

    It seems extreme to me that we are prosecuting an officer when the fellow
    he was trying to take to jail WAS A WANTED MAN. Then again we must
    remember the OFFICER broke the very rules WE are NOT allowed to BREAK,
    and WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THIS WAS ALL OVER A MISDEMEANER.

    That being said the whole thing sounds extreme and personnal, then again
    maybe the officer just didn’t think anyone would care how he got the job done.