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Officer Investigated After Failing To Ticket Detention Officer

Posted: 4:04 pm EDT May 23, 2007Updated: 5:26 pm EDT May 23, 2007

Erica Box said she drove into an intersection and a car driven by a detention officer ran a red light and her Camaro was hit, and all Cobb County police are saying is the officer who ticketed Box and failed to ticket the detention officer is under investigation.

"Because she had a uniform on. I cannot see any other reason. If I had run a red light and it was the other way around, I’m sure I would have gotten a ticket," said Box.

Box said she is still angry after Jerrie Cornell, a Fulton County sheriff's detention officer, ran a red light in her personal car and slammed into Box’s Camaro.

"I did slide through the light," said Cornell in a recorded phone conversation.

  • SLIDESHOW: Detention Officer's Car Hits Camaro

  • Cornell admitted being at fault during a recorded phone conversation, but the Cobb County officer who arrived on the scene didn’t give Cornell a ticket. Instead, Box received a citation in connection with not having a current registration sticker on her car.

    "I said, 'But you know my car is registered.' He said it was my responsibility to make sure everything on my car was right when I drove it," said Box.

    Box said she was infuriated when her insurance company later told her why Cornell’s insurance wouldn’t repair her car.

    "They said, ‘Well, I hate to inform you that she’s been uninsured for at least two months," said Box.

    Officer Mark Lathan did not cite Cornell on suspicion of having no proof of insurance at the scene.

    Box filed a complaint against Lathan, saying this incident report in inaccurate and biased against her. She said Lathan had no reason to manipulate such a minor incident.

    "How can we count on him as citizens to tell the truth if it was something serious?" said Box.

    After Box complained, Cornell told Channel 2 she received a ticket on suspicion of no proof of insurance but did not get a ticket in connection with running the red light. She said she could not explain why. Cornell also said she does not know Lathan and had no say-so in how he did his job.

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