Sheriff: Report doesn't support Taylor's allegations

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June 3, 2010

Alan Mauldin The Moultrie Observer The Moultrie Observer Thu Jun 03, 2010, 10:47 PM EDT

MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in a 2009 incident in which a man claimed he was hit by a city-owned car, Sheriff Al Whittington said.

The sheriff’s office reexamined the case this week after a letter to the editor written by the man’s son appeared in The Observer and the newspaper asked for information about the allegations made in the letter.

The letter alleged that the victim was hit by a city-owned vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the United States Postal Service Office parking lot near downtown Moultrie. The letter from Keith Taylor said that the car hit his father in the legs, throwing him onto the hood and into the windshield.

After talking with city employees, Whittington said Wednesday, it appears that account is not accurate.

Moultrie Utilities Director Roger King was interviewed by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday about the incident, and he and another employee in the office said that James Taylor came into the office on the morning of Dec. 22 to complain about a driver in a city Crown Victoria, Whittington said.

“He told Mr. King that a city car had come through the parking lot in a reckless manner and had brushed his leg,” he said. “He wanted him (the employee) to be reprimanded.”

A sheriff’s report from the same day said that a deputy was dispatched to the Moultrie Police Department at 6:10 p.m. to take a report from James Taylor.

At that time, Taylor reported that he was struck in the right knee by a city vehicle while walking through the post office parking lot, and that the driver did not stop.

Between the time Taylor went to see King and the time he made the report that afternoon, he called King’s office to report that he had a headache, Whittington said.

Whittington said that between the time of the Dec. 22 report and the letter appearing in the newspaper on May 29 there is no record of anyone from Taylor’s family contacting the sheriff’s office to check on the status of the case.

“I can’t find a captain that he’s spoken with, I can’t find a supervisor he’s spoken with, and I know I haven’t talked to him,” he said. “I went back and checked; I have no messages from him.

“As far as we’re concerned, we made a report. He can pick up a copy of the report. A report was given to the city’s insurance company. As far as I know there’s nothing else for us to do.”

King said Thursday that Taylor did come to his office some time on that morning. He appeared to have no problem walking, and had no visible injuries or torn clothing.

“At the time, he was asked repeatedly if there had been any injuries and he said no,” King said. “In the afternoon he called back. I didn’t talk to him. He said he had a headache and he was referred to the police department.”

Taylor mentioned nothing about being thrown on the hood of a car, but said the Crown Victoria had brushed his leg, King said.

The employee who was driving the car works in the city’s Maintenance Department, he said.

Moultrie Human Resources Director Dale Williams said Thursday that a claim for medical expenses has been filed with the city’s insurance company, but no lawsuit has been filed. No disciplinary action was taken against the employee, he said.

A telephone message left Thursday at James Taylor’s residence seeking comment was not returned.

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