Prosecutors will not pursue some of the charges faced by a Greenland man, on contract with Fayetteville police, accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend with a gun.
James Clifton Cox, 56, was arrested last Friday on suspicion of kidnapping, terroristic threatening, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released Sunday from the Washington County Detention Center on $5,000 bond.
County prosecutors met with Cox’s ex-girlfriend and determined her recollection of the events did not give them enough evidence to convict Cox of kidnapping and terroristic threatening. Prosecutors will, however, pursue charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Denis Dean, Washington County deputy prosecutor.
The ex-girlfriend also is not supportive of prosecuting Cox on the kidnapping and terroristic threatening charges, Dean said.
Cox is the owner of Greenland Wrecker Service in Greenland. The company has an exclusive towing contract with the Fayetteville Police Department. The police department does not pay Cox. Greenland Wrecker Service is called when police need a vehicle towed, said Fayetteville Police Chief Greg Tabor.
Tabor said Thursday that Fayetteville police will continue to enlist Cox’s services, as they have for the last four-and-a-half years.
“He’s doing a good job,” Tabor said of Cox. “Everyone’s innocent until proven guilty.”
Cox’s contract with the police department expires in April, when the department will open re-bidding for towing. Tabor said the best offer will get the job, even if it is Cox again.
Cox’s ex-girlfriend told police he kept her at his home last Friday and threatened her with a pistol. He fired two shots near her and kept her in his home before eventually letting her leave, according to a preliminary report with the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Cox told the woman he would kill her if she told police what happened, the report states.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched Cox’s home and found fragmented lead, an expended .22-caliber shell casing, a suspected bag of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Deputies then arrested Cox.
