Pubdate: Wed, 03 Dec 2003
Source: Charlotte Sun Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2003 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sun-herald.com/newsch.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1708
Author: Greg Martin, Staff Writer

EX-COP'S TRIAL STARTS TODAY

Wyatt Henderson's Wife Solicits Funds

A former Charlotte County Sheriff's narcotics detective accused of
pistol-whipping a teenage drug suspect stands trial today in Fort Myers.

Former sheriff's Cpl. Wyatt Henderson faces three federal charges, including
that he used "unreasonable force" in the arrest of then-17- year-old
Christopher Grant, according to a grand jury indictment.

Henderson also lied to his sergeant and the FBI about the incident, the
indictment claims. U.S. Judge Anne Conway is set to open the trial at 9 a.m.
today with jury selection.

Meanwhile, Henderson's wife, Amy K. Henderson, has mailed out a pamphlet
soliciting $25 donations for the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund. Based
in Washington, D.C., the fund helps defend police officers charged with
crimes over use-of-force decisions made in the line of duty.

The pamphlet includes a photo of the Hendersons sharing birthday cake with
their son, Morgan, on his second birthday.

"But, that may be the last birthday of Morgan's that Wyatt will ever see,"
Amy Henderson wrote. "Because a federal prosecutor is trying to put Wyatt in
prison for 20 years just for doing his job and arresting a dangerous young
drug dealer."

The charges stem from the May 21 arrest of then-17-year-old Christopher
Grant on marijuana-peddling charges. Grant was lured to the Port Charlotte
Beach complex for the arrest.

However, when county detectives closed in, Grant fled in his mini-van. He
drove over a curb, nearly striking a pedestrian, according to sheriff's
reports.

Henderson pulled over the suspect about a mile away and ordered him from the
vehicle as other narcotics officers were arriving at the scene.

Henderson, in a written statement, said Grant did not comply with an order
to lie down. So Henderson took him down forcefully.

Grant broke his jaw in the incident. He claimed he was pistol-whipped.

Henderson's indictment cites the following charges:

* Violating the victim's civil rights by assaulting him while acting as a
law officer.

* Misleading Charlotte Sheriff's Sgt. Jerry White the day after the incident
with the intent to keep a potential federal offense from getting reported to
a law officer.

* Making a false and fictitious statement to the FBI.

During an Oct. 4 interview with FBI agents, Henderson stated that he threw
his handgun into his patrol car through the window, according to Douglas
Molloy, assistant U.S. attorney.

Henderson, 45, has worked for five law enforcement agencies during a career
that spans 24 years.

He worked at the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office first in the mid-1990s
and again from 2000-02. Henderson was a supervisor in the undercover
narcotics unit until he resigned earlier this year amid a criminal
investigation into his citing a fraudulent diploma.

A state attorney declined to file charges stemming from the diploma,
however.

Henderson's wife, in the pamphlet, said his legal fees could top $100,000.
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