Etowah County warrant roundup focuses on domestic crimes
ETOWAH COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - A roundup of domestic violence and other domestic-related would be offenders has yielded dozens of arrests in Etowah County.
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office and Gadsden Police Department teamed up for the roundup, which was meant to tie in to National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and was part of a national campaign on Wednesday.
However, many of those arrested were charged with non-support and not with domestic violence.
"Must be a slow news day!" the mother of one suspect yelled to a WBRC videographer as her son was led away in handcuffs for non-support.
The sister of another suspect--who wasn't home when deputies arrived--blocked a WBRC vehicle briefly while blaming whatever charges were brought against her brother on a former spouse.
Many of those arrested for non-support were held without bond.
"Our highest volume of calls are to domestic violence-related calls," said Etowah County Chief Deputy Michael Barton. "And so it is a constant thing, it is a repeat thing, and unfortunately it's a lifestyle cycle that many people live in."
Deputies and officers met at the Etowah County Sheriff's Office at 6 a.m. to receive instructions and packets of warrants. Officers divided up 127 warrants on 107 men and women, warrants obtained by investigators. Then they fanned out with the first arrests coming right about dawn.
The early part of the roundup focused on west and north Gadsden, with other parts of the city, and other cities, getting attention later on. Eventually it spread to surrounding cities of Rainbow City, Southside, Attalla, Glencoe, Hokes Bluff, Altoona and Walnut Grove.
As the day progressed, Etowah County deputies and Gadsden police were joined by agents with the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit and members of various police departments throughout Etowah County.
A state trooper assisted in the call in which the suspect's sister had words with the WBRC crew.
"The scariest call that police officers actually go on is the domestic violence call, as emotions are high, violence is present and a lot of times they're alcohol and drug fueled," said Gadsden Police Capt. Paul Cody, commander of the department's detective division.
However, there were no incidents other than the verbal ones directed at officers and reporters.
A drug agent and sheriff's investigator were on standby in case deputies ran across cases unrelated to the warrants. A Gadsden police officer who was part of the roundup arrested a suspect wanted in an armed robbery on West Meighan Boulevard a day earlier.
The traffic stop actually came only a few blocks away, at the intersection of North 12th and Meighan. Gadsden police Sgt. John Hallman said surveillance video from the robbery showed the suspect getting away in a silver Ford pickup with a rusted top, and the truck pulled over Wednesday morning fit that description.
By the end of the day, investigators had arrested 34 of the 107 individuals being sought in the detail. A news release from sheriff's office public information officer Natalie Barton listed some of the charges:
- Domestic Violence Crimes (Harassment, Assault, Criminal Mistreatment, etc.)
- Non-Support (Child Support)
- Interfering with Making 911 Calls, Obstruction of Telephone Service, or Crimes Relating to a Victim Calling 911
- Restraining Order Violations
- Stalking Order Violations
- Domestic Violence Release Agreement Violations or Bail Bond Violations
- Child Abuse Crimes
- Elder Abuse Crimes
Barton says some 28 law enforcement officers of various types took part in this 13th annual roundup of its type.
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