Green Says Charges Against Jake Payne Out of City’s Hands

Action is yet to be taken on charges against a Quinlan man whose arrest resulted in the firing of Quinlan police officers.

Jake Payne, 19, was arrested last month at a Campbell motel by three Quinlan police officers. His mother, Karla Whitehead, told the city council that her son was beaten during the arrest. The city conducted an investigation and fired Officers Richard Gomez and Daniel Skurlock.

The third officer present at the time of the arrest, Jeremy Humphrey, was fired the following day by City Administrator Billy Green for failure to adequately pass tests during his probationary period of employment.

Green said Tuesday that the matter was out of the city’s hands.

When asked if the charges could stand since the fired officers would be the complaining witnesses, Green said that it would be up to the district attorney.

District Attorney Noble Walker told The News that the charges had not yet reached his desk.

He said he could not say what would happen until he had had an opportunity to review the case.

Payne was first arrested Aug. 28 by Officer Gomez. He allegedly escaped, and Gomez said the suspect kicked him in the head and attempted to take his gun.

Constable Kent Layton took Payne into custody the following day, acting on a tip that he was in the Walmart parking lot. He was later released on bond.

Payne was arrested again the following week at the Campbell motel. Charges included escape, aggravated assault on a public servant and attempt to take a gun from a police officer.