DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 3:56 p.m. April 08, 2009
2 Atlanta cops arrested on child abuse charges
They ‘adamantly deny any sort of wrongdoing,’ lawyer says
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
An Atlanta police lieutenant and sergeant who are married to each other have been arrested on child-abuse charges in Paulding County, authorities said.
Lt. James Whitmire, 49, and his wife, Sgt. Carolyn Whitmire, 44, are charged with first-degree cruelty to children, said Cpl. Brandon Gurley, spokesman for the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. They were arrested and released from jail Friday on a $5,700 bond.
Their attorney on Wednesday called the charges “an absolute fabrication” stemming from efforts to control a troubled teen.
The couple’s arrest arose from a “physical abuse” incident involving Carolyn Whitmire’s 15-year-old son at their home in Dallas, Gurley said. The accusations came directly from the boy, the couple’s attorney said.
James Whitmire, the teen’s stepfather, is accused of punching the boy in the head, causing a knot, on the afternoon of Feb. 20. Carolyn Whitmire is accused of hitting him with a power cord five to six times, according to arrest warrant affidavits.
Gurley, who would not provide any details on the incident, said the sheriff’s office began looking into criminal allegations after being notified by the Division of Family and Children Services on March 16, Gurley said.
Carolyn Whitmire, reached by phone Wednesday, said, “The truth will prevail,” and referred questions to her attorney, Theo Sereebutra.
“They adamantly deny any sort of wrongdoing,” Sereebutra said. “They are career law enforcement officers. … I know that this is all an absolute fabrication.”
Sereebutra said the boy has not reacted well to the Whitmires’ attempt to curb his dropping grades and use of alcohol and cigarette smoking. The boy wanted to go live with his biological father, Sereebutra said.
Sereebutra said the Paulding detective on the case did not interview the Whitmires before obtaining arrest warrants.
Gurley, however, said the detective, identified in court documents as J.M. Maxwell, twice spoke to Carolyn Whitmire by phone to arrange an interview, but she could not agree on a time to talk to him. So the detective got warrants based on evidence he had gathered, Gurley said.
An Atlanta police spokesman, Officer James Polite said the Whitmires have been relieved of duty with pay until an emergency administrative hearing. He said APD is cooperating with the Paulding investigation.
The boy is currently living with his biological father, Sereebutra said.
Carolyn Whitmire was once a participant on the American Gladiators competition television show, as chronicled in an AJC story last fall. The 23-year police veteran works on patrol in southwest Atlanta.
Polite could not immediately say how long James Whitmire has been with the Police Department but said he works at the northwest Atlanta precinct.
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