By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Eight people from Gardendale and Mt. Olive were arrested last week after a joint investigation by the state attorney general’s office and the Alabama Criminal Justice Infor-mation Center (ACJIC).

The case stemmed from a variety of crimes involving the misuse of confidential law enforcement information, according to a press release from Attorney General Troy King’s office.

The felony charges range from intentional use of an official position for unlawful personal gain, soliciting a public employee to use of public property for private benefit, disseminating criminal offender record information and obtaining criminal offender information under false pretenses.

Those arrested included: Tiffany Danielle Horsley, Terry James Henley, Charlotte M. Henley, James Heath Fields, David Ross Murray, James Harold Gwin Jr. and Ronny Paul Summers of Gardendale; Jody Allen Freise of Mt. Olive; and Charles Taylor House and Bradley Scott Cummings of Trussville.

Another person, whose name was not released, has been charged but not arrested.

Horsley is a former dispatcher for the Adamsville Police Department. The case reportedly originated from that department and misuse of the LETS (Law Enforcement Tactical System), a database that provides access to law enforcement records and information. However, a spokesperson with the attorney general’s office said specific details of the case could not be released.

King said maintaining the integrity of the database is essential to protect the citizens of Alabama.

“The LETS program is an invaluable tool for law enforcement, and the information this system contains is protected by law,” he said. “Access to this data is privileged and confidential, and it is a crime to use LETS for any purpose other than a legitimate law enforcement or criminal justice purpose.”

The case was also investigated by the Adamsville Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and the Investigative Division of the Alabama District Attorney’s Association.

Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker said his department had played a minor role in the investigation and the “significant arrests” of the 10 individuals.

Since Friday, several of those charged had turned themselves in to the Jefferson County Jail. Others were arrested by agents of the ACJIC, the release said.

The attorney general’s office reportedly presented the evidence to a Jefferson County grand jury in Bessemer on March 24 and then to a second grand jury on April 3, which resulted in the indictments.