Why wasn’t ex-Hancock deputy charged with resisting arrest in domestic violence case?
It took three Hancock County sheriff’s deputies to detain their brethren, Colin Freeman, when he was arrested on Aug. 8 after pushing his then-girlfriend, causing her to hit a counter.
The former Hancock County K-9 handler has now been convicted of domestic violence twice — once in Hancock County in 2020 and after a 2015 incident in the city of Waveland — but won’t have a criminal record because both sentences were non-adjudicated.
When the Sun Herald reported Freeman’s December conviction in the Hancock County case involving his now ex-girlfriend, readers questioned why Freeman wasn’t charged with resisting arrest, drunk driving and other offenses.
Arrest after domestic violence incident
Freeman faced his second domestic violence arrest on Aug. 8 after Hancock County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call about an assault at his home involving his then-girlfriend, who was an employee of the Sheriff’s Department at the time.
According to the report, Freeman was drunk when he assaulted the woman because he thought she was cheating on him.
The assault occurred while the victim was bathing her children, ages 3 and 4.
A short time after deputies arrived, Freeman resisted efforts by authorities trying to take him into custody.
A deputy pulled out a Taser at one point, but it was not used to detain Freeman. Three deputies would finally get Freeman into custody.
There was no body camera or dashcam footage of the incident.
No charges for resisting arrest?
After Freeman’s conviction in Hancock County, readers questioned why sheriff’s deputies didn’t arrest Freeman on additional charges of resisting arrest, drunken driving or other offenses.
At the time of the assault, Freeman’s girlfriend said he was drunk and angry.
After the woman got a call through to 911, Freeman left the home in a vehicle and later drove back, slipping into a side door of the home upon his return, the records say.
Deputies had already arrived at the home by then.
“I think there could have been other charges brought against him for his conduct after deputies arrived,” Hancock County prosecuting attorney Olen Anderson said. “They could have charged him with resisting arrest and failure to comply and things of that nature.”
The Sun Herald asked Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam why additional charges weren’t filed in the case.
“I don’t know why,” Adam said in response, noting that it was up to the arresting officer to make the call. “You need to ask them.”
So far, no one has been able to say why Freeman didn’t face any other charges in the case.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
