Woman framed by police in 2012 is back in Whitfield County Jail

photo Angela Garmley

The last time Angela Garmley was arrested for methamphetamine possession, a deputy went to prison, a police captain went to prison and a judge resigned.

That was the result of a cover-up, back in August 2012, after Garmley complained that Murray County Magistrate Bryant Cochran abused his power. This week, Garmley went to jail again -- again on charges of methamphetamine possession.

Her attorney says this arrest is an act of revenge. Bruce Frazier, spokesman for Dalton police, the agency that arrested Garmley, says this isn't true. Frazier says Garmley's recent arrest has nothing to do with her problems in Murray County.

Frazier said investigators learned a couple of months ago that Garmley was selling methamphetamine, though Frazier would not say how the department got that information. In late July, according to an arrest warrant affidavit, Garmley sold the drug to a police informant.

On Sept. 4, a Whitfield County magistrate issued an arrest warrant after hearing some of the police department's evidence against Garmley. Frazier said she turned herself in Tuesday. She remained at the Whitfield County Jail on Wednesday in lieu of a $4,500 bond.

Her attorney, McCracken Poston, said he has not seen the evidence in the case but believes this is an illegitimate arrest like the one in 2012.

After that case, another attorney filed a civil lawsuit against two former Murray County sheriff's employees who arrested Garmley. That lawsuit is pending. Cochran was indicted on criminal charges in U.S. District Court. That case is pending, too.

Poston said Garmley's arrest could affect both those cases.

"If [the Dalton Police Department has] a good case against her, they need to bring it out," he said. "Otherwise, they are messing with civil litigation and tampering with a federal witness."

The roots of Garmley's first arrest date back to April 2012. She visited Cochran's office after a group of people beat her up. She asked Cochran to issue an arrest warrant against her assailants.

Garmley said that the judge later texted her, asking her to return to his office "wearing a dress and no panties." He said he needed a mistress. She sent him a picture of herself in nothing but her underwear. She said she thought she had to.

Cochran issued the arrest warrant.

In July 2012, Garmley complained to the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the governing body that oversees Georgia's judges. Cochran later resigned because of this complaint.

According to a federal indictment, Cochran called multiple law enforcement officers and gave them a tip that Garmley drives around town with drugs in her car. Clifford "C.J." Joyce, who lives in a trailer that Cochran owns, placed five packets of methamphetamine into a metal tin that he planted in the wheel well of Garmley's car.

Two days later, Murray County sheriff's Deputy Josh Greeson pulled Garmley over. He and other deputies searched the car but found nothing, so Greeson called Capt. Michael Henderson, Cochran's cousin. Henderson told Greeson where to find the drugs.

Prosecutors later dropped those charges against Garmley when Joyce admitted that he planted the drugs. Greeson and Henderson also admitted their parts in the conspiracy, and all three men went to federal prison for sentences ranging from 10 to 18 months.

Cochran was indicted on May 14 for his supposed part in this conspiracy. U.S. Magistrate Walter E. Johnson declared on Aug. 18 that the criminal case against Cochran is prepared for trial.

Poston said Garmley's arrest this week seems to mirror that first one: "It is a sad day for justice in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit."

Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6476.

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