The Williston Police Department concluded its internal investigation from a controversial wreck and presented its results to the Williston Town Council more than two months after the Jan. 2 occurred.

During its March 8 meeting, the Williston Town Council heard from Williston investigator Rodney Pruitt.

Pruitt told the council that the complaints of Stacy Johnson and Willie O'Neal were "unsubstantiated" and that no more action would be taken.

However, Willie O'Neal said the matter hasn't ended yet, although he did not state what his next step would be.

The controversy arises out of the Jan. 2 wreck in which Tomory O'Neal, Willie O'Neal's son, was involved in a wreck on Academy Street.

Joshua Givens' truck struck the car O'Neal was driving, which was owned by Stacey Johnson, Tomory O'Neal's aunt.

O'Neal alledged that Givens exited his truck and struck his son Tomory in the face.

Conflicting information between the original police report and a later amended one; the fact that O'Neal was given a field sobriety test and his car searched while the same was not done to Givens led Willie O'Neal and Johnson to file written complaints with the town.

Givens was later arrested and charged with three counts of assault of a high and aggravated nature.

"I found the complaints of Mr. Willie O'Neal and Ms. Stacey Johnson were unsubstantiated," Pruitt said to Williston Town Council March 8.

"While in hindsight, things might have been done differently or better, I found that the complaints of Mr. O'Neal and Ms. Johnson did not result from a violation of police policy or procedure," Pruitt said.
Pruitt did not make any recommendations as to what could have been done differently or better.

Town Administrator Scott Neely said most of the council members viewed the videotapes and could see for themselves what might have been done differently.

One development from the investigation is that "employee A" from the Williston Police Department has been suspended without pay for 30 days.

That suspension was made by the Williston Town Council during a special called meeting Feb. 22.

All council members were present at the start of the feb. 22 meeting, but Michael Benjamin left during the executive session and did not return to participate in the vote to suspend the employee.

During the March 8 meeting, Mayor Tommy Rivers referred to Pruitt as the "acting chief" as he was called to make his presentation to council.

Neely also said council did not have a police report this month for "obvious reasons." The report is normally handled by Williston Police Chief Roger Kaney.

Neely was asked by The People-Sentinel if he would confirm that Kaney was the suspended employee.

Neely said he would not comment on the issue.