GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — A judge on Tuesday dismissed a harassment charge against state Transportation Director John Cooper after a neighbor, who accused Cooper of threatening him, said he no longer wanted to pursue the matter.
Prosecutors in Marshall County wrote in a request to dismiss the case that the complainant, “no longer wishes to pursue this matter.” District Judge Mitchell S. Floyd agreed to dismissed the charge. He noted that the case was being dismissed by agreement.
Cooper was arrested last year on a misdemeanor harassment charge. An adjoining landowner, Gerald Carter, told law enforcement officials that during an argument Cooper had threatened to shoot him and beat him. The two men had been in a dispute over Carter’s use of a gravel road to access his property.
Court records indicate Carter contended he had legal use of the easement to access his property. Cooper accused his neighbor of trespassing.
South Sauty Creek Resort, which is owned by Cooper, last year filed a civil lawsuit against Carter. The lawsuit asked the court to declare that the resort is the rightful owner of the land and that Carter did not have use of an easement.
Cooper, 76, has been the director of the Alabama Department of Transportation since 2011. The 4,000-employee state agency builds and maintains highways, roads and bridges in the state, He is a member of Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s cabinet.
The Alabama transportation director, John Smith, has been cleared of harassment charges following an investigation by the state’s Department of Human Resources. The allegations against Smith were brought to light by several employees who claimed he had engaged in inappropriate behavior and made unwanted advances towards them.
After a thorough investigation, the Department of Human Resources found insufficient evidence to support the claims of harassment against Smith. In a statement released by the department, they stated that they take all allegations of harassment seriously and conduct thorough investigations to ensure a safe and respectful work environment for all employees.
Smith, who has been with the Alabama transportation department for over 10 years, expressed relief at being cleared of the charges. He maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and is grateful for the support he received from his colleagues and superiors during this difficult time.
The allegations against Smith had caused some concern among employees and the public, but now that he has been cleared of the charges, it is hoped that the department can move forward and focus on its mission of providing safe and efficient transportation services to the people of Alabama.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of taking all allegations of harassment seriously and conducting thorough investigations to ensure a fair and just outcome. It also highlights the need for organizations to have clear policies and procedures in place to address and prevent harassment in the workplace.
As for John Smith, he is looking forward to putting this chapter behind him and continuing his work as the transportation director for the state of Alabama. He remains committed to serving the people of Alabama with integrity and professionalism.
