FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2006

State Attorney Steve Meadows announces the dismissal, by filing of a No Information, of a Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer charge filed against James C. Rains.

Rains, 82, of Game Farm Road in Panama City, was charged, on October 29, 2006, with grabbing the finger of a Cedar Grove Police Officer.

The No Information letter did not include comment.

“We give full consideration to every case we receive,” said Meadows. “We cannot condone attacks on our law enforcement officers. We must, though, apply a reasonableness standard to the facts of each case.

“In this incident, based upon the complaint filed and other information received, it is clear that we must go beyond the letter of the law to consider intent and other factors. This case should go no further and, accordingly, I have today directed its dismissal.”