There is more information tonight on the weekend arrest of Navassa Police Chief Ricky Thorpe.
Thorpe is suspended without pay and his license is revoked for 30 days, after a
DWI arrest.
WWAY wanted to know what this means for cases in which he was the arresting officer.
The fate of these cases will be up to the Brunswick County D.A.'s office.
That office is still waiting for paperwork from Highway Patrol, so no decision has been made yet.
A state trooper arrested Thorpe early Saturday morning.
Wilmington defense attorney Chad Hogston says in situations like this, the credibility of the arresting officer is greatly damaged and many times, cases are thrown out.
Hogston says the D.A.'s office could either drop cases in which Thorpe was the arresting officer, or say to move forward with them because he's innocent until proven guilty.
Either way, Hogston says it gives defense attorneys ammunition.
"I've had as situation where I've had multiple DWI cases pending with one charging officer, that charging officer gets a DWI charge and maybe, I can't remember if they were convicted or not, but that disposed of all those cases, so it is advantageous to our clients when that situation occurs," said Hogston.
Hogston said Chief Thorpe's arrest shows nobody is above the law.
Thorpe's trial is scheduled to begin in mid August.
Ok.. so he got a DUI...
Why would his getting a DUI throw credibility on cases of people he arrested for DUI? Does anyone REALLY think that he'd be biased against drunk drivers? if anything, they are all fellow drinking buddies.
I personally know Ricky from
I personally know Ricky from Bolton, NC and he was a great chief there. He did a lot for the youths in the community and the elderly. We all make mistakes and hopefully he learned from this. Before you start downing him, take a minute out to think if you are perfect? Good Luck with everything Ricky.....................
Excuse me but this isn't his
Excuse me but this isn't his first time doing anything wrong. This is however his first time getting caught by someone honest enough to file charges against him! You can't honestly think he has been perfect the whole time he has been in office. Yes, he might have done some good in there, but when you knowing go and buy a drink and get yourself drunk and drive in a police car, I don't care how honest of a mistake it might have been. He COULD HAVE AND WOULD HAVE, ended up killing someone. Think about it this way what if it was SOMEONE YOU KNEW he killed? No, there isn't anyone out there who can say they they have been perfect their whole life, but I can say I stop and think what the outcome of my actions will be. He could have done that especially being in the field he was in. TO SERVE AND PROTECT US ALL!!!!
he has been charged
Back in 2004 he was charged with:
1)RECEIVING BRIBES
2)WILLFUL FAILURE TO DISCHARGE DUTIES
3)EMBEZZLEMENT PUBLIC OFFICIAL
His sentence.... Take ethics training!
WHY DONT WE LET GOD JUDGE MR
WHY DONT WE LET GOD JUDGE MR THORPE, YE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE