Newspaper Page Text
December 14, 2022
^Reporter
Page 7A
TRIAL
Continued from Front
Bill Fears that the Guzman
case had led some to make
false accusations against
the arresting deputy, Sgt.
Chris Sherrell, and against
the sheriffs office, including
charges of racism. But she
noted that Sherrell has res
cued drowning victims and
been a public servant who
didn’t deserve the abuse he
took.
Hull said she was glad
the case had finally gone to
trial so jurors could see the
evidence and reach a ver
dict. Referring to Facebook
critics who slammed Sher
rell and the sheriff’s office
without knowing the facts,
Hull quoted Proverbs 26:4:
‘Answer not a fool accord
ing to his folly, lest you be
like him yourself’
With that, Fears gave
Guzman the maximum
sentence of 12 months in
jail for obstruction. His
wife, who helps him rim
the restaurant, wiped away
tears as Guzman was led off
to jail.
The traffic stop happened
on the evening of Feb. 15,
2021. Guzman was driving
down Lee Street in his Ford
F-150 truck when Sherrell
saw Guzman take a left
turn at the cut-through by
Waffle House. While the
cut-through is commonly
used, Hull noted that the
cut-through has two signs
saying “Do Not Enter” and
that it’s only for northth-
bound traffic. So Sherrell
turned his lights on. Guz
man continued down Rus
sell Parkway before finally
stopping near the Days Inn.
Captured on his dash cam,
Sherrell approached and
said “how are you doing?”
and asked for his license.
Guzman replied “can I get
a ‘please with that?” After
exchanging words, Guzman
finally handed over his
license. Sherrell returned
to his patrol car and wrote
im 4IM
Raul Guzman is arrested by
deputies Chris Sherrell and
John Cochran in 2021. (Vid
eo capture courtesy Monroe
County District Attorney)
him a citation. While
running his license, Sherrell
learned that Guzman had
restrictions on his license.
He began to suspect him
of drinking and driving.
By the time he returned to
Guzman’s truck, Sherrell
had lost the mic to his dash
cam. But coincidentally
that’s when Guzman began
to tape the interaction with
his phone. Sherrell, who
thought Guzman’s eyes
were glassy and red, asked
him how much he had to
drink. Guzman laughed and
responded that he doesn’t
drink. Sherrell told Guzman
he has a limited license,
something often imposed
upon DUI convictions, and
asked him again how much
he had to drink. Guzman
continued to argue back.
Sherrell told Guzman to
get out of the truck, osten
sibly for a sobriety test. But
Guzman said he would not,
and asked Sherrell for his
badge number and name.
Sherrell said he would give
it to him but needed him
to get out of the truck and
told Guzman he was under
arrest for obstruction. As
Sherrell tried to unbuckle
Guzman’s seatbelt, Guzman
said, “You want to fight,
buddy?” From there Sherrell
pulled Guzman out of the
truck and a struggle ensued.
Deputy John Cochran
arrived on the scene as well
and helped. Finally Sher
rell Tased Guzman, who
screamed loudly as he went
to the ground and he was
arrested. With the obstruc
tion charge, deputies didn’t
further investigate their
DUI suspicions.
Guzman’s passenger,
Edward Grier, who was not
charged, testified that Sher
rell hit Guzman in the face.
But the videos are incon
clusive about that. Guzman
attorney Ken Smith also
alleged that Sherrell hit
Guzman in the face. Grier,
who said he had asked to
do some work for Guzman,
said he didn’t see Guzman
drinking in the 20 minutes
they were together before
the traffic stop. Smith said
that Guzman became an
American citizen not long
after his 2021 arrest and
asked the jury to have mer
cy on a hard working busi
ness owner who provides
for his family. Smith said his
18 year old son was having
surgery for an ATV injury
on Tuesday but that the son
insisted his mother be there
at the trial for his dad.
But Hull said Guzman
turned a routine traffic stop
into a combative situation,
and she bemoaned the false
allegations against Sherrell
and the sheriff’s office.
Smith responded that he
had not authorized any
one to slam the sheriff’s
office and that no reputable
journalist had made those
allegations.
Reached for comment,
Adams said it’s unfortunate
that Guzman refused to ac
cept a plea deal that would
have kept him out of jail.
“I feel bad for Guzman,”
said Adams. “He shouldn’t
be going to jail for left turns.
Usually in these cases, you
pay your fine and move on.
I hate that this is what the
guy chose to do.”
Adams said whenever
he’s stopped for a moving
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violation like speeding, he
always tries to be humble
and respectful because
you’re much more likely
to receive mercy then. He
said his office didn’t have a
vendetta in the case, but it
tries to win every case when
a defendant wants to go to
court.
“In Monroe County, if you
want a trial, buddy, we will
give it to you,” said Adams.
“But we are in it to win it.”
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