By Raisa Habersham
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
MEANSVILLE, Ga. — Nearly four months after his arrest, charges against a retired Griffin Fire Department Battalion Chief were dismissed Thursday, Pike County District Attorney Benjamin Coker said in a statement.
Emory Leroy Rickerson was arrested Oct. 10 after he refused to remove his car so Georgia State Patrol troopers could access the crash scene on Ga. 109, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Rickerson said he was administering aid to the woman when they asked him to move his car.
According to a GSP traffic incident report, Rickerson was charged with obstruction after arguing with a trooper, who repeatedly told him to move his car.
After reviewing the report and dashcam footage, Coker spoke with witnesses and decided to dismiss the charges.
“Given the totality of the facts, circumstances and viewing the evidence as a whole, the State cannot prevail in a prosecution of Mr. Rickerson for the offense of obstruction of an officer,” Coker said. “For the foregoing reasons, this case will be dismissed.”
Coker also said the publicity of the case would have made a fair trial “impossible.”
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