County deputy cleared of assault charge
Monroe News
February 17, 2000
http://www.monroenews.com/
A jury Wednesday cleared a Monroe County sheriff’s deputy of charges of pointing a gun at his ex-girlfriend during an argument almost two years ago.
Orval (O.P.) Parker, 47, a 22-year veteran of the force, was found innocent of felonious assault and domestic violence charges.
“After 702 days, it’s like the world has been lifted off my shoulders,” Deputy Parker said after the verdict. “I can finally take a breath of fresh air.”
The 12-member jury deliberated a little more than an hour after the three-day trial held in Monroe County Circuit Judge William F. LaVoy’s courtroom.
Visiting Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris was the presiding judge and Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Rolland Sizemore III tried the case. Local officials had excused themselves because they knew Deputy Parker.
Deputy Parker has been on unpaid suspension leave since Renee Harrington, his ex-girlfriend, filed charges against him. She claimed that on March 11, 1998, Deputy Parker pointed a gun at her during an argument in his home.
State police of the Monroe Post investigated the incident and a special prosecutor authorized formal charges.
Deputy Parker testified that he never pointed a gun at Ms. Harrington. He also said on the stand that she told her to get out of his house, but he never held a weapon. The jury believed him.
“He had a remote control and she claimed it was a gun,” said Monroe defense attorney William Godfroy. “We denied it was a gun from day one, from the first moment.”
Mr. Godfroy called eight witnesses while Mr. Sizemore called two. Both Deputy Parker and Ms. Harrington testified in the sometimes-emotional trial.
Deputy Parker said he is relieved his name has been cleared and looks forward to returning to work. He said he believes he should be reinstated.
“I’ve done nothing wrong, I’ve violated no departmental policies,” he said. “I want to get to work with full police powers and serve the citizens of Monroe County.”
In the past two years, Deputy Parker has been working various jobs, but nothing was permanent because “when you’re suspended nobody wants to hire you,” he said.
Now he’s ready to get on with his life.
“I have no animosity toward the County of Monroe,” he said. “I want to forget about it. It’s time to move on.”
Mr. Sizemore was unavailable for comment.
