Volunteer fireman questions deputy's involvement in accident

FLORENCE - A member of the Central Volunteer Fire Department said he has filed a formal complaint against a Lauderdale County sheriff's deputy after a wreck he worked on the morning of Oct. 4.

Jay Gibson blames the wreck on deputy Ronnie Valentine, who was off duty at the time the accident occurred.

Gibson said he responded to the wreck that occurred on Lauderdale 200, which, according to state troopers, was 2:30 a.m.

Gibson told the Lauderdale County Commission about his complaint and said it was his understanding that Valentine was chasing another vehicle at speeds of more than 100 mph at times.

"My question is: Why is an off-duty officer chasing this man at 2 a.m.?" Gibson said.

Valentine would not comment about the complaint other than to say the driver of the car was intoxicated and he followed him.

"I kept my distance. It wasn't my fault that he wrecked," Valentine said.

Gibson said he overheard the driver of the car say the reason he tried to elude the off-duty vehicle was because he didn't know who was chasing him.

According to state troopers, the driver of the vehicle ran off the roadway and crashed. He was not seriously injured.

Gibson told commissioners that troopers arrested the driver for driving under the influence.

He said he filed a complaint with Lauderdale Sheriff Ronnie Willis.

Commission Chairman Dewey Mitchell, who doubles as the county's probate judge, told Gibson that filing his complaint with the sheriff is the right procedure to follow.

"Legally, this is all we can do because the only thing we have control over is the sheriff's budget," Mitchell said.

County attorney Chris Smith said the commission has no authority over the sheriff's office or his personnel.

Chief Deputy Jr. Witt said he and Willis have received the formal complaint.

It has been turned over to the sheriff's department attorney for review.

"He will advise on what course of action, if any, we can or should take," Witt said.

He said the complaint has been turned over to chief investigator Travis Clemmons to investigate, "and we're waiting on that to be completed."

"Once that is completed, we will take the proper action," Witt said.

No disciplinary action has been taken in the case.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.