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Citizen Reacts To Parker Arrest

BABY STILL ‘VERY CRITICAL'

Highlands County Sheriff's Office

Parker remained in the Highlands County Jail on Tuesday on $250,000 bond on a charge of aggravated child abuse.

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: March 31, 2009

AVON PARK - A 20-month-old girl who sheriff's investigators reported sustained severe injuries Sunday at the hands of Avon Park police officer James Hilton Parker III, 32, of Sebring, was still in "very critical condition," according to Sheriff's Sgt. Darin Hood on Tuesday.

Parker remained in the Highlands County Jail on Tuesday on $250,000 bond on a charge of aggravated child abuse.

Olen "O.C." Coker, 56, of Wauchula said he filed a citizen's complaint on Aug. 20, 2008, two days after his arrest by Parker that led to an internal investigation and disciplinary action against Parker.

"Me and my wife both cried when we heard about the little girl," Coker said.

Coker was a passenger in a vehicle with his brother-in-law Wendell Cotton, riding from Wauchula to Sebring on State Road 64, to buy a generator at The Home Depot, in preparation for Tropical Storm Fay.

The traffic stopped on S.R. 64 due to an accident involving a large diesel fuel spill. Coker, a diabetic, told Cotton to pull in to the parking lot of Lucy's Supermarket, which is outside of the city limits, so he could get a Gatorade because he felt his sugar had dropped.

"I took my shot that morning before we left and we planned to eat at the McDonalds, but we never got there," Coker said.

Parker was directing traffic and saw the pickup truck move in what he reported attempting to circumvent the intersection and avoid taking his direction.

Parker told Cotton and Coker to stay put where they were. Coker admits he wised off to Parker saying something like "What can you do about it?"

He said Parker immediately asked Coker for his identification, took it and walked back toward the intersection on S.R. 64.

Coker said he got out of the truck to go inside the market. He pulled a drink from the cooler when Parker walked in and put him in handcuffs.

Coker, who had just gotten out of the hospital for a heart condition, said he was on blood thinners. He started to bleed due to the handcuffs.

"I still have the scars on my wrists," he said.

"I told him I've got a bad heart and I can't keep up with him and he told me don't make me Taser you," Coker said. "I have a pacer pump deliberator and I was afraid when he threatened to Taser me.

"That day this happened to me I said this guy's going to hurt somebody; I could see it in his eyes."

Coker was taken to jail and charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer without force, he said.

The charges against Coker were dropped by the States Attorney's Office because Parker lacked the authority to make the arrest.

"Me and my brother-in-law both told (Parker) he does not need to be a police officer – he's a loose cannon," said Coker. "We also told that to the chief and the internal affairs guy."

According to a document in Parker's personnel file dated Jan. 21, disciplinary action due to the Coker incident included a three-day suspension without pay.

Parker was also recommended to take a two-day sympathy and empathy training course on diabetics, which Police Chief Matthew Doughney said Parker has not yet undergone.

He was also ordered a six-month probationary period, but Parker filed a grievance and the probation was rescinded, Doughney said.

Checking Parker's personnel file he had five commendations as well as four disciplinary notices. On July 7, 2008, Parker was suspended without pay for two days when he was found to be incompetent or inefficient in the performance of his duties.

There were problems reported regarding evidence collected on 19 different criminal cases dating back to April of 2008, the notice stated.

Arrest Leaves APPD Short Staffed

Police officers Alberto Perez and Adam Willis were recently arrested on charges of police misconduct.

Willis was additionally charged with armed burglary of a structure or conveyance and grand theft more than $300 but less than $5,000, following undercover operations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Avon Park Police Department.

The department began receiving reports of officers taking money from illegal aliens during traffic stops threatening them with tickets. Perez was charged with one count of threats or extortion.

Willis was terminated and Perez remains on unpaid administrative leave.

More recently police mourned the death of Sgt. Marc Wilbur, who died suddenly while on duty in his patrol vehicle.

Add to that one officer who resigned and there are two positions that were frozen in the last budget.

Avon Park City Manager Sarah Adelt said Tuesday that the city is considering hiring new police officers in light of the staff shortage.

"We have accepted applications and we are issuing a test," she said. "(South Florida Community College) does the testing. The police department has to conduct it with them."

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com.

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