Former officers’ arrests hit Prattville hard

March 31--PRATTVILLE -- News that two former high-ranking Prattville police officers have been indicted on a list of theft charges isn't sitting well with many residents of this law and order town.

John Wayne McDaniel Jr., 48, of the 400 block of Bedford Terrace, is charged with burglary, theft of property, possession of burglar tools, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit burglary, records in the Autauga County Courthouse show. Leon Todd Townson, 50, of the 1500 block of Bridge Creek Road, is charged with burglary, possession of burglar tools, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit burglary, records show.

This recent session of the Autauga County Grand Jury wrapped up deliberations March 17.

Both men had attained the rank of lieutenant in the Prattville Police Department before resigning ahead of arrests.

McDaniel is free on bonds totaling $90,000, and Townson is free on bonds totaling $125,000, jail records reflect.

The cases were investigated by PPD. The attorney general's office is handling the prosecution. District Attorney Randall Houston requested the attorney general handle the cases because both men were former police officers in his circuit.

Police Chief Mark Thompson calls the developments "disappointing." Townson had resigned long before Thompson became Top Cop. But McDaniel was serving on the force when Thompson was appointed chief about four years ago.

Thompson wouldn't comment specifically on the cases, citing their ongoing nature.

"I will say this: If you break the law in Prattville, we are going to arrest you," he said. "It doesn't matter who you are or what your job is."

Law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard, Thompson said.

"You expect an officer to be above the temptations that everyone else faces," he said. "They hold an important position in the community, and we are held to a higher standard. I've dealt with it here, and I've dealt with it when I was a captain in (the) Montgomery (County Sheriff's Office). It's always disappointing when an officer makes a bad decision.

"But I think our actions with how we have handled things with the rank and file show we aren't going to tolerate this type of behavior. We are going to arrest you, and if you're convicted, we are going to ask for the maximum penalty."

McDaniel's attorney, Trey Norman, declined to comment on the case.

Townson's attorney is Bruce Maddox. When reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Maddox said he hasn't had time to review recovery in the case.

"It's my understanding that testimony in the case is from two people who are accused of the same crime Todd is accused of committing," Maddox said. "Unless that information changes, I don't think there is evidence there to convict."

In December of 2015, Townson and McDaniel were arrested and each charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools, court records show. The two men had allegedly broken into a home in the 1100 block of Honeysuckle Drive, said Thompson. They also allegedly robbed a man living in the neighborhood, the indictments read.

"I hate that it has happened, I hate it for the good officers on the force," said Chris Coleman, of Prattville. "You know we don't have much crime in Prattville anyway, really. So when you hear two former cops have been arrested, it gets your attention."

Paula Smith was meeting friends for lunch Thursday at Prattvillle Pasta Mill, a popular downtown eatery located in the shadows of the courthouse.

"I want to know what they are still doing out on bond," she said. "If it had been me or you or anybody else, we would have had our bond pulled right away."

Both men were out on bond for previous arrests when then indictments came down last week. Each man faces new charges after their initial arrests and bonds. A standard requirement of bond is that you don't arrested on other charges while out on bond.

McDaniel resigned in 2013 after more than 20 years on the force. His resignation came before he was arrested in an unrelated case on theft of property, extortion, impersonating a police officer and possession of a controlled substance charges. His bonds total $12,500 on those charges.

Courthouse records show he has a plea day on May 22 on those charges.

Townson resigned in 2005 before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misappropriation of property, courthouse records show. At the time of his resignation, Townson was second shift supervisor and had headed the department's drug unit. While on the force, he took an AR-15 rifle that had been seized in a narcotics case from the drug unit's evidence locker, courthouse records show. Townson used the rifle, then used its receiver to build a more accurate rifle. He then tried to sell the rifle in a Montgomery gun shop, records reflect. When questions about the ownership of the rifle came up, he retrieved the rifle from the gun shop and destroyed it, records show.

On Tuesday, Townson was arrested on charges of insurance fraud and theft charges, court records show. It is not known at this time is the cases are related. He was released from the Autauga Metro Jail Tuesday afternoon after posting a bond of $15,000 on those charges. Townson could not be reached for comment on the newest charges, and Maddox said he doesn't represent him on the additional charges.

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