It’s now more clear why Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper turned himself into the Marshall County Jail this month.
Gerald Carter, a Scottsboro businessman, lodged harassment charges against Cooper – alleging that Cooper threatened him with violence over a land dispute.
“Cooper said to me, ‘You touch my gate and I’ll shoot you,’” Carter told al.com.
The confrontation took place after an exchange about a property easement issue after Carter’s purchase of 5.5 acres of land near Cooper’s property at South Sauty Creek Resort campground.
“He said, ‘You touch my gate and I’ll shoot you.’ I said, ‘What did you say?’ He said, ‘You know what? You ain’t even worth the price of a bullet. You touch my gate and I’ll whup your fat ass.’
“I said, ‘John Cooper!’ And he said, ‘You heard me. I’m old and I got Parkinson’s, but I’ll still whup your fat ass!’ And I said, ‘John, you take your best shot and you make sure it’s a good one.’”
“Cooper’s property adjoins a garden, and there is a gravel road with another entry way to my property. However, Cooper keeps a locked gate there,” Carter said. He also said Cooper had sent him a letter accusing him and his wife of trespassing on his land.
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According to Carter, he has a deeded easement allowing use of the road off Joe’s Parkway and had tried to communicate this to Cooper. Despite efforts to resolve the issue amicably, Carter said, their discussions became contentious and even involved a rejected offer by Cooper to swap lands.
On June 4, Carter said he noticed Cooper’s utility vehicle blocking the gravel road leading to his property. When confronted, Cooper demanded to see the easement document. After reviewing it, Cooper accused Carter of buying “bad land” and claimed that he had been “sneaking” onto the property.
“I told Cooper that I would stop using Joe’s Parkway as long as he removed the gate to my property. When I threatened to remove the gate myself, that’s when he issued the threats,” Carter said.
Cooper has been director for ALDOT since 2011.
RELATED: Judge halts bridge project, accuses ALDOT chief of bad faith
Cooper was arrested and spent roughly 30 minutes in Marshall County Jail on June 12 before posting a $500 bond on a harassment/intimidation charge.
“This morning (Monday), Mr. Cooper directed me to file a complaint for declaratory judgement cause of action in Marshall County Circuit Court regarding a land dispute with a neighbor who is falsely claiming an easement on Mr. Cooper’s property,” said a statement released June 12, signed by Cooper’s attorney George Barnett.
“The clearest legal path to resolving this matter is to have the Court determine whether an easement exists, and we look forward to resolving this matter.”
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
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