A Cullman County grand jury has determined the Hanceville Police Department has been operating as a criminal enterprise and recommended disbanding the department after an investigation into the death of a dispatcher and other reported failures.
Cullman County district attorney Champ Crocker announced the arrest of five officers, including the chief, and one of the officer’s wives.
Cody Alan Kelso is charged with two counts of computer tampering, solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime, use of office for personal gain and tampering with physical evidence.
Jason Scott Wilbanks is charged with two counts of computer tampering, two counts of use of office for personal gain, tampering with physical evidence and two counts of solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime.
Jason Shane Marlin, the police chief, is charged with two counts of failure to report ethics crime and tampering with physical evidence.
William Andrew Shelnutt is charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Eric Michael Kelso is charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance.
Donna Reid Kelso is charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance.
Crocker said a grand jury of 18 citizens came to unanimous findings, recommending the department be abolished and stating it is “an ongoing threat to public safety.”
“There is a rampant culture of corruption in the Hanceville Police Department, which has recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency,” the grand jury found.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said the sheriff’s office is preparing to take over the police department if it is disbanded.
The investigation also found no confidence in the Hanceville Police Department's ability to maintain the jail or meet basic health and safety needs of inmates or personnel.
Inmates in the Hanceville Jail will be transferred to the Cullman County Jail if the county takes over.
The grand jury found a lack of leadership and oversight, as well as negligent training and hiring, has led to the allowance of crimes.
Crocker said one of the most concerning things discovered during the investigation was that the evidence room was not secured. That is what led to the death of a dispatcher Christopher Michael Willingham, who was found dead in his office last August, Crocker said. The coroner’s office determined Willingham died of “combined toxic effects of fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol.”
“The death of former Hanceville dispatcher Chris Willingham is the direct result of Hanceville Police Department's negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence, and disregard for human life,” the grand jury found.
No one is charged in Willingham’s death.
RELATED: Multiple Hanceville police officers arrested; Cause of dispatcher death revealed
The distribution charges were not related to the evidence room, Crocker clarified. While evidence and drugs were removed from the evidence room, he said Eric and Donna Kelso were distributing drugs that were from elsewhere. Some of those who received those drugs were other officers, Crocker said.
Unsecured evidence could also lead to issues in prosecuting other cases.
“I want to say this for the citizens of Hanceville,” Crocker said. “The citizens of Hanceville deserve equal protection under the law. They deserve to have a safe community just like everyone else in this county. “
The evidence room will now be audited by state officials.
Crocker said the mayor and council are cooperating in further investigation. He does not foresee additional charges for the defendants arrested today but said others could be charged.
Marlin has been chief for less than a year. He was sworn into office last August. After a 20-year career with Birmingham Police, he came to Hanceville as an officer in 2021. When former Chief Josh Howell retired in April 2024, Marlin was named interim police chief. After announcing the job would be permanent, Sawyer said Marlin put a big emphasis on being transparent and communicating with the public.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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