Wright: 'Not guilty'
By Jason Green

CLANTON - DeWayne Wright, a former Clanton Police officer facing assault charges stemming from an incident having taken place during Memorial Day 2002, plead not guilty during his arraignment on Friday at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Write is accused of using excessive force against Thomas Johnson on Clanton outside the Skylight Bar on Seventh Street North in Clanton last year.

Wright's attorney Liz Huntley said injuries suffered by Johnson, both during his arrest and later during his booking at the Chilton County Jail left Johnson severely injured - with internal bleeding, needing stitches and with a concussion.

Wright's attorney, Bill Speaks, has declined comment on the case.

On Friday, District Attorney Randal Houston said additional evidence in the case will soon be turned over to Speaks for his evaluation.

Huntley also said she will file a federal lawsuit this week against the Chilton County Commission, the Chilton County Sheriff's Department, certain department employees and Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer for Johnson's treatment that evening.

Huntley said that excessive force was also used at the jail after Johnson was booked and that the "beating" he took there in addition to the force Wright allegedly used during Johnson's arrest landed Johnson in the Chilton Medical Center.

In a clarification regarding a story appearing in Friday's edition of The Advertiser, Huntley said it was important to understand that Wright was not dispatched to the scene by Chilton County Communications.

"He took it upon himself to go down there."

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