The entire police force was put on leave after the boss, 4 officers arrested under multiple charges

Cullman County, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – the entire police force of an Alabama city was placed on leave after five officers, including the police chief, and one of their spouses were accused of a big jury and arrested for more accusations.

Mayor Hanceville, Jim Sawyer, announced last Thursday that all city police department employees have been placed on administrative leave starting WBRC reports.

The office of the Sheriff of Cullman County will temporarily provide all the services for the application of laws in jurisdiction.

Five officers with the Hanceville police department were accused of a large jury of Alabama and arrested for multiple accusations. (Source: WBRC)

The mayor’s announcement came the day after five policemen from Hanceville, including the boss, were charged with a great jury of Cullman County and arrested under multiple charges It comes from Christopher’s 49 -year -old August 2024 death, a 911 -year -old dispatcher who was found in his office.

An autopsy determined Willingham died due to a drug overdose, especially from the “combined toxic effects of fentanyl, gabapentine, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol and metocarbamol.”

The great jury established that Willingham’s death was a direct result of “negligence and ignorance of life” by the police department.

The lawyer of the Cullman District, Crocker, says the test chamber was not safe and was “accessed by the routine by people who were not authorized to do so.” The room had a large hole in the wall, and a broom was commonly used by individuals to access evidence through the hole.

The evidence room had a large hole in a wall, and a broom was frequently used by individuals ... — The test room had a large hole in a wall, and a broom was frequently used by people to access evidence through the hole, said the district lawyer.(Source: Cullman County District Lawyer)

Officers were charged for the following charges:

Cody Alan Kelso33 years old, he is accused of two charges of computer manipulation, two charges of use of the Personal Win Bureau, evidence handling and two requests for requesting an offense with controlled substances.
Jason Scott Wilbanks37 years old, he is accused of two charges of computer handling, two charges of use of the Personal Win Bureau, evidence handling and two requests for requesting an offense with controlled substances.
Jason Shane Marlin (police chief)51 years old, he is accused of two allegations of failure to report ethics offenses and manipulate evidence.
William Andrew Shellnutt39 years old, he is accused of manipulation with evidence.
Eric Michael Kelso44, is loaded with four charges of illegal distribution of the controlled substance and two conspiracy numbers to illegally distribute a controlled substance.

Donna Reid Kelso, 63, Eric Kelso’s husband, is accused of two charges of illegal distribution of the controlled substance and two accusations of conspiracy to illegally distribute a controlled substance.

Officials said that all six suspects were released.

From left to right (up): Eric Michael Kelso, Jason Scott Wilbanks, William Andrew Shellnutt .... — From left to right (top): Eric Michael Kelso, Jason Scott Wilbanks, William Andrew Shellnutt. From left to right (down): Cody Alan Kelso, Jason Shane Marlin and Donna Reid Kelso(Cullman County Sheriff’s Office)

The big jury also recommended the Hacville Police Department to be abolished immediately, calling “more a criminal organization than a law enforcement agency.” The district lawyer said he would be according to the city to decide whether to abolish the police department.

Following the mayor’s decision to place the entire police force on leave, the Hanceville Local Council will meet on Thursday to discuss the future of the department.

Sawyer’s full statement about the decision is followed as follows:

After a productive meeting with the sheriff of Cullman County, Matt Gentry, the Sheriff’s office in Cullman County will temporarily provide all the law enforcement services in the Hanceville Police Jurisdiction, effectively at 5:00 pm. All 911 and emergency calls will be directed directly to the Sheriff’s office in Cullman County.

In force at 5:00 pm today, all the employees of the Hanceville Police Department will be placed on administrative leave.

The Hanceville Municipal Council will meet public on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 5:00 pm, at the Hanceville City Hall. The meeting will discuss and approach the future of the Police Department of Hanceville and other potential actions on the same.

The city of Hanceville thanks to the sheriff Matt Gentry and his office for the help of the citizens of Hanceville at this time due to the circumstances revealed on Wednesday.