Radio report draws Hunter under fire
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Jasper Police Chief Todd Hunter said he believes he has done nothing wrong in the handling of police warrants through his department.

Hunter came under fire Tuesday, Sept. 18, after a KJAS radio broadcast saying he has withheld arrest warrants and not following due process of the law.

"I did not dismiss this case nor have I dismissed any case during my two and a half years as chief," Hunter said. "The mere fact our department conducted cases on officers family members shows that this department does not show favoritism. All cases have been sent to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution. I have never dismissed any case while serving as your Chief of Police."

According to the radio broadcast, Hunter held back a warrant for the arrest of Grant Foster during June 2006 raids in Jasper.

According to Hunter, in June 2006 the Jasper Police Department conducted a drug warrant roundup.

"I had been previously made aware that two of the suspects that were to be arrested were relatives of two of our officers," Hunter said. "I did not believe the officers needed to be subjected to any possible embarrassment on the day of the warrant service. "

Hunter said he learned one of the suspects was currently in a drug rehabilitation program and this suspect was later arrested once he was released from the treatment program.

"Due to the fact the second suspect did not have a criminal history and he was the son of a former Jasper Police Officer and the bother of a current officer I chose to personally handle the situation," Hunter said. "I had a meeting with the suspect and his mother and was assured he was going to seek treatment. I told the suspect I would hold the warrant and monitor his behavior."

According to the radio broadcast, the suspect individual is Grant Foster, brother of Jasper Police Officer Garrett Foster.

"I later learned he did not seek treatment as he had told me," Hunter said. "Due to internal activity during this time I made the decision to hold the warrant longer so it did not appear that I was being vindictive against his family."

According to the radio broadcast, Garrett Foster has expressed his displeasure over Hunter's handling of the situation.

"After additional concerned citizens and officers contacted me about the suspect's activity I felt I could not hold off on the arrest any longer," Hunter said. "I transferred the warrant back to the Narcotics Division for service. As the Chief of Police I made a command decision to avoid any embarrassment to the officers during the drug roundup.

"I was aware of this drug investigation from the start and allowed the Narcotics officers to continue," Hunter said. " If I was going to intervene on behalf of the suspect I would have done so during this time."