CARROLLTON, Ky. (AP) - A judge has ordered a northern Kentucky police chief to help the mentally ill after holding him in contempt over his actions in a case in which a mentally disabled inmate was sent to Florida instead of being taken to a mental hospital for evaluation.
Carrollton Police Chief Michael Willhoite and officer Ronald W. Dickow were charged with contempt for violating an order to transport jail inmate Adam Horine to Eastern State Hospital in 2015. Instead, police put Horine on a bus to Florida.
Police argued during a criminal trial last year in which they were acquitted that their actions stemmed from a misunderstanding.
WFPL-FM (https://bit.ly/2jVBcsD) reports District Judge Karen Thomas said in Monday’s order that Willhoite did nothing to remedy the situation after learning of the judge’s order, constituting contempt. She ordered him to “create a collaborative” to “address the care and treatment of the mentally ill” in Carroll County.
Thomas said in the order that she will dismiss the case if Willhoite creates a “meaningful and productive collaborative” or even if he makes a good faith effort. Otherwise, he will face 179 days in jail.
Willhoite declined to comment on the order.
Thomas dismissed the charge against Dickow, who the station could not reach for comment.
The judge said his actions reflected a “horrendous mistake at best and negligence and a serious lack of judgment at the very least” but did not amount to contempt.
She scheduled a hearing on June 14 to review Willhoite’s progress.
___
Information from: WFPL-FM, https://wfpl.org
Please read our comment policy before commenting.