Appeals court refuses to reconsider Crane case

Chief John Crane

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has denied a request to reconsider a ruling that would send a complaint filed by a murder victim’s family against Gadsden Police Chief John Crane back to the Etowah County Circuit Court.  In April, the appeals court returned the case to the civil division of Etowah County Circuit Court to be heard again. Attorneys for Crane and the city asked for rehearing of the decision by the full court, rather than a committee.  Michael Rasmussen, representing Joy Justus Bates, said the court had declined to reconsider the issue. He said attorneys for the chief can request that the Alabama Supreme Court take up the matter. Otherwise, he said, it would return to the Etowah County courts.  The issue before the Court of Civil Appeals was whether Bates had standing to appeal the discipline handed out by the Gadsden Civil Service Board after a complaint she filed against Crane.  Bates is the niece of Nita Denson, a Gadsden woman murdered in her home in 2009. Denson’s son, Justin Denson was arrested, charged with killing his mother with a sledgehammer and taking credit or debit cards from her home.  Bates’ complaint alleged that Crane’s relationship with Denson — he had been a friend of Crane’s son — helped make it possible for Denson to plead guilty to a charge of intentional murder in the case, meaning he could someday be eligible for parole. Crane visited Denson in prison and took on a ministerial role with the man. His visits began before he became chief in 2012 and continued afterward..