Published June 09, 2008 11:51 pm -
Eton city clerk facing five counts after arrest
Kim Sloan
kimsloan@daltoncitizen.com
Eton’s city clerk was arrested Sunday night after law enforcement officials said she was with five juveniles when they took some city signs.
Kimberly Dawn Hall, 44, of 175 Lake Shore Drive, Chatsworth, was with the juveniles when three street signs and a cigarette butt container from either Eton City Hall or the Eton Fire Department were taken, according to a Murray County Sheriff’s Office report. The signs and the container were found in a vehicle driven by Hall’s son, the report said. Hall and four juveniles were in the vehicle.
The deputy smelled a “strong odor of alcohol” in the vehicle and Hall, who was holding a cup, told deputies she was drinking alcohol, the report said. She would not say anything else, the report said. A phone number for Hall could not be found.
The juveniles told deputies that they were at a birthday party at Hall’s home when they “became bored and wanted something to do. Mrs. Hall came along because her son only had a learner’s license and did not want him to get in trouble.”
Hall is charged with five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, allowing an unlicensed driver to drive and open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Deputies charged Harold Chambers, 38, who was listed at the same address, with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and pedestrian under the influence after he was found walking with one of the juveniles south of Highway 411. None of the juveniles were charged.
Eton City Councilman Steve Shaw said the incident was a prank and that Hall and the juveniles were going to return the signs after taking pictures of them.
“We got all the signs back and none of them were damaged,” Shaw said. “Nothing was damaged in any way.”
Hall and Chambers were released on their own recognizance. No phone listing could be found for Chambers.
Hall was not at Eton City Hall on Monday, said Police Chief Brent Hooper. Hooper said he did not know anything about the incident since it was handled by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office.
Shaw said he did not know if any action would be taken against Hall.
“I am just one councilman,” Shaw said. “We will be looking at it over the next few weeks.”
Eton is currently without a mayor, since Greg Hogan resigned to run for Murray County sole commissioner in the July 15 primary. Judy Bostic and Billy Cantrell resigned their council seats to run for mayor in the July 15 special election. Joan Dooley and Shaw are the only sitting council members, according to Terry Miller, Eton’s city attorney. Dooley was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Miller said late Monday afternoon he was not aware of Hall’s arrest.
“She is very competent and qualified,” Miller said.