Stevenson, Ala., interim Police Chief Roy Hester Hollis is charged with domestic violence, third degree, according to the Etowah County Sheriff's Office.The interim police chief in Stevenson, Ala., has been arrested on allegations of domestic violence, becoming the city's second police chief since the first of the year to find himself facing charges.
Interim Chief Roy Hester Hollis, 48, of Stevenson, has been charged with domestic violence, third degree, by the Etowah County Sheriff's Office. The charge is a misdemeanor.
Hollis was arrested Feb. 17, according to booking records at the Etowah County Jail. He was freed on a $1,000 bond less than 10 minutes after he was booked.
"Hollis allegedly called and harassed a female victim in November 2015," Etowah County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Natalia Barton said of the charge in an email on Tuesday.
Barton had no information on any upcoming court dates for Hollis.
Stevenson Mayor Ricky Steele did not return a call requesting comment. Hollis could not be reached for comment.
Hollis replaced former chief Daniel Winters, who was charged on a federal indictment in late January with deprivation of civil rights under color of law.
Allegations in that case are that Winters and others entered a Stevenson residence and assaulted a man in connection with the burglary of a local funeral home, according to court records.
The indictment alleges Winters and others assaulted the man, and that Winters didn't stop others from assaulting the arrestee, thereby depriving him of his civil rights, federal court records state.
A related federal civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, David Fulmer, names Winters, the city of Stevenson, Stevenson police officers Darren McCaimey and Hester Hollis, Valley Funeral Home owner Bobby Hicks and his employees, Luke Ballard and David Grider, as defendants.
In the suit, Fulmer contends the men entered his brother's home without a warrant or permission, mistook Fulmer for his brother and began attacking him. Hicks struck the first blow, knocking Fulmer unconscious, the suit states. Hicks and others then kicked and beat Fulmer as he lay on the floor.
The man briefly regained consciousness but was knocked unconscious again until he came to in a police car, where one of the men "held his head back by the hair and another held a knife to his head," the suit states.
Winters pleaded not guilty to the charges in February.
Contact staff writer Ben Ben ton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.