James Douglas                Jerry Douglass

            TWO CHRISTIAN COUNTY MEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEST SIDE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SPENDING DEPARTMENT FUNDS FOR PERSONAL USE.

            A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED A MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN EXCESS OF 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS. AS A RESULT, THREE SEARCH WARRANTS WERE SERVED ON TWO DAWSON SPRINGS ROAD RESIDENCES RECENTLY AND A SEARCH OF THE WEST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING.

            AS A RESULT OF THE SEARCHES, DEPUTIES ARRESTED 30-YEAR OLD WEST SIDE FIRE CHIEF JAMES DOUGLAS OF 13495 DAWSON SPRINGS ROAD AND ASSISTANT CHIEF 37-YEAR OLD JERRY DOUGLASS, JR. OF 13255 DAWSON SPRINGS ROAD.

            POLICE ALLEGE THE PAIR USED MONEY COLLECTED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PAY FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES, WITH OTHER DETAILS WITHHELD PENDING THE INVESTIGATION.

            BOTH ARE CHARGED WITH THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING, WITH JAMES DOUGLAS ALSO FACING ABUSE OF PUBLIC TRUST CHARGES. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS OBTAIN A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR FUNDS THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF DUES, WITH THIS THE FIRST YEAR THEY APPEARED ON PROPERTY TAX BILLS IN CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

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