Chief Patterson's case is underway 10-12-2010

THE CASE AGAINST SUSPENDED GREENVILLE POLICE CHIEF CHARLES PATTERSON MOVED FORWARD TODAY WHERE A PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING WAS HELD IN CIRCUIT COURT. CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE ASHLEY HINES HEARD BOTH SIDES ON TUESDAY.  THREE YOUNG WOMEN PRESSED MISDEMEANOR SIMPLE ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST PATTERSON LAST MONTH. THE CHARGES STEM FROM A SEPTEMBER 4 INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON WALNUT STREET. THE WOMEN TESTIFIED PATTERSON ACTED IN A FORCEFUL MANNER, THREATENING TO SHOOT IF THEY DID NOT STOP WHEN HE REQUESTED THEM TO DO SO. THE WOMEN ALSO CLAIM PATTERSON SMELLED OF ALCOHOL BUT DIDN'T APPEAR DRUNK. PATTERSON TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE, AND TOLD THE COURT THE WOMEN APPEARED TO LOOK LIKE JUVENILES. SINCE IT WAS AFTER CURFEW, HE ASKED THEM TO STOP, BUT THEY KEPT ON WALKING AND WERE GIGGLING AT THE SAME TIME. HE WASN'T SURE IF THEY WERE DRUNK.  HE ALSO TOLD THE COURT THAT HE CALLED THE POLICE STATION TO HAVE AN OFFICER COME TO WALNUT STREET TO RUN THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE WHICH IS COMMON IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. ONCE AN OFFICER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, PATTERSON THEN WALKED AWAY.  PATTERSON TESTIFIED HE WAS NOT DRINKING AT ALL THAT NIGHT.  THE OFFICER WHO RAN THE WOMEN'S LICENSES TESTIFIED THE WOMEN DID LOOK LIKE JUVENILES. JUDGE ASHLEY HINES WILL HAND DOWN HIS WRITTEN RULING SOMETIME WEDNESDAY ON WHETHER OR NOT CHIEF CHARLES PATTERSON SHOULD BE ARRESTED ON THE MISDEMEANOR SIMPLE ASSAULT CHARGES.