Andrews – A local man is facing charges of DWI, reckless driving and damage to property in an incident at Andrews Elementary School.
Carroll Edward Mathis was transported from the school by Andrews police on Dec. 2, after officers responded to a 911 call of a possible impaired driver. Police Chief Rocky Burrell said facts to establish probable cause for a charge of driving while impaired were not present at that time.
Burrell said he learned additional details about the case as well as about the existence of additional evidence during a Dec. 3 meeting at the school with Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Jeana Conley, Andrews Elementary Principal Sarah Tatham, teacher Amber Bristol and Mayor James Reid.
Burrell received written statements from a witness who observed Mathis driving, which allegedly caused damage to school property. He also received photos and video of the incident captured by a camera at the school, contributing to the charges.
“When I was hired by the town of Andrews, I promised that I would follow the letter of the law and treat the residents and visitors of Andrews with the utmost respect and impartiality,” Burrell said in a release. “My department is committed to conducting thorough investigations before charging individuals. Sometimes this may result in a delay of charges, but in my opinion that is better than charging someone falsely.”
Conley said that type of meeting is not uncommon following an incident on school property. School officials wanted to review the sequence of events during the incident and get an update on the status of the case.
Andrews – A local man is facing charges of DWI, reckless driving and damage to property in an incident at Andrews Elementary School.
Carroll Edward Mathis was transported from the school by Andrews police on Dec. 2, after officers responded to a 911 call of a possible impaired driver. Police Chief Rocky Burrell said facts to establish probable cause for a charge of driving while impaired were not present at that time.
Burrell said he learned additional details about the case as well as about the existence of additional evidence during a Dec. 3 meeting at the school with Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Jeana Conley, Andrews Elementary Principal Sarah Tatham, teacher Amber Bristol and Mayor James Reid.
Burrell received written statements from a witness who observed Mathis driving, which allegedly caused damage to school property. He also received photos and video of the incident captured by a camera at the school, contributing to the charges.
“When I was hired by the town of Andrews, I promised that I would follow the letter of the law and treat the residents and visitors of Andrews with the utmost respect and impartiality,” Burrell said in a release. “My department is committed to conducting thorough investigations before charging individuals. Sometimes this may result in a delay of charges, but in my opinion that is better than charging someone falsely.”
Conley said that type of meeting is not uncommon following an incident on school property. School officials wanted to review the sequence of events during the incident and get an update on the status of the case.