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Citizen observers who turned out Thursday morning for Lowndes County Sheriff Christ West’s trial found the Hayneville courtroom empty and learned court had been cancelled for the day. Later they heard that the town’s case against the Sheriff had been dismissed by a judge’s order issued Nov. 28.

Municipal Judge Fred Bell ordered that West’s motion to dismiss the town’s remaining charge of obstructing governmental operations was granted and dismissed the charge without prejudice in an order he signed on Thanksgiving Day. Bell explained his decision in the order reads, in part:

“The Alabama Supreme Court has held that §13A-10-2 requires that any interference be physical and that words, alone, fail to allege culpability under §13A-10-2 (Accord D.A.D.O.v. STATE of Alabama, 57 So.3d 798, 806 (Ala.2009).

“Accordingly, it is therefore ordered that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the charge of obstructing governmental operations is granted, and this charge is dismissed without prejudice.”

West, who said he was notified Wednesday that Hayneville’s Dec. 12 trials had been cancelled, expressed his gratitude upon learning of the judge’s decision.

“We are extremely grateful,” West said.

The dismissal followed Bell’s Nov. 13 order to dismiss the harassment charge filed against the Sheriff in August. West had appeared before the Hayneville municipal judge on Oct. 10 requesting all charges be dismissed, but the judge initially ruled the Sheriff would stand trial before later dismissing all charges.

The case stemmed from a June 24 altercation between West and Lowndes County Commissioner Robert Harris after the two elected officials exchanged words over relocating the Sheriff’s investigator’s office. On July 8, the Lowndes County Commission voted 3-2 to bring charges against West but later overturned that decision and voted to support the Sheriff’s appeal to dismiss the charges.