Three Arrested In Grand Jury Probe Of Dothan Police Shooting Case
By: Ken Curtis
Updated: November 21, 2012
At least three people have been arrested in connection with an investigation into statements made to a grand jury regarding circumstances surrounding a man shot to death by a Dothan Police officer.
Pastor Kenneth Glasgow said the three arrested are Minnie Vickers Pearce, 53, Nancy Young, 58, and Shirley Threats, 55, all of Dothan. Young is charged with Perjury and Pearce with Disclosure of Testimony by a Witness. Both women testified before the grand jury.
Threats was arrested earlier this week in connection with to an old case and, according to her, taken to testify before the grand jury. Threats claims she notarized written statements which were presented to the panel.
"I told the grand jury everything (District Attorney) Doug Valeska asked me," Threats said. She said witnesses swore their statements were true so she notarized the documents.
Meanwhile, Glasgow said he also testified before the grand jury Tuesday. His exact statements are not known since such proceedings are done outside the public eye. He is now calling for protest in reaction to the arrests. "If somebody has committed a crime that's o.k. but this is going overboard," Glasgow said. "People are stating what (they saw) and this is causing a rift."
Attempts to reach Valeksa for comment were not immediately successful. The courthouse was closed Wednesday afternoon.
Chris Thomas, 22, was shot in June, after leading police on a short car chase. Dothan investigators say Thomas stopped his car in the parking lot of a shopping center on Montgomery Highway. When the officer got out Thomas accelerated the vehicle, attempting to strike the officer. Several shots were fired into Thomas' car which then traveled across the busy roadway and rammed a sign manufacturing business. One person inside the business was hurt.
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation conducted a probe into the shooting, turning its findings over the Valeska. The veteran prosecutor began presenting evidence to the grand jury last week. The panel, according to those familiar with the case, was reconvened Tuesday after suspicions over the validity of some testimony surfaced.
It's not known when the grand jury will report its findings. However, the courthouse is closed until Monday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
