A judge charged a Birmingham police officer with contempt and had the female officer thrown in jail for not showing up on time as a witness and for being drunk and disheveled when she did appear, records show.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tracie Todd is overseeing the trial of Quintez Lajarvis Walker, 32, of Birmingham. Walker is charged through a 2015 indictment with first-degree rape and sexual torture of a woman.
“Officer Velvet Smith, Birmingham Police Department, was called as a witness in this case. Officer Smith reported to court yesterday (Tuesday). Officer Smith’s testimony was postponed until today (Wednesday),” Todd stated in an order Wednesday afternoon. “She (Smith) was informed and instructed by (Deputy District Attorney Carlos) Gonzalez to be in court by 9:00 a.m. Officer Smith was also instructed by her BPD superior officer to be in court as instructed. Officer Smith has not reported to court. Officer Smith is hereby ordered to report to court by the close of business today.”
Later Wednesday afternoon, Todd issued another order after Smith showed up to court. “Officer Velvet Smith appeared in court at approximately 4:10 p.m. She appeared to be intoxicated and was not dressed to give testimony. She presented in a disheveled condition wearing casual clothes and flip flop shoes. As a result of her failure to appear when called and personal presentation, she is being held until trial resumes to ensure her presence.”
Jefferson County jail records show Smith was booked into the jail on the contempt charge at 4:14 p.m. Wednesday and was later released at 12:16 a.m. without bond.
Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards on Friday said Smith is currently being reassigned from the patrol division. “It is our goal as a department to serve with ethics, effort and excellence,” he said. “No other standard will be tolerated or accepted.”
Source: http://www.al.com