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Crawford freed after jail time exceeds probation penalty BY CHRIS BRISTOL Troubled former Gold Hill police chief David Crawford was released from jail Friday after he got less time for a probation violation than he had already served. Jackson County Judge Rebecca Orf issued a 10-day sanction after a hearing Friday in which she concluded Crawford violated the "no-contact" clause of his probation for a roadside run-in involving Chris Brooks, the dirt-biker he was convicted of assaulting earlier this year. Testimony indicated Brooks initiated the encounter and no threats were made. Since the beef had already cost him 11 days in jail, Crawford was out by day's end. Crawford, 41, resigned from the Gold Hill police department in June after he was convicted of kicking and manhandling Brooks after a chase along the railroad tracks near town. The conviction included an unrelated off-duty traffic dispute in 1996 involving an elderly couple from Trail. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail, but was released after only nine because of crowding. According to testimony Friday, the probation beef stemmed from a brief encounter this month alongside Lampman Road. Brooks, 30, testified that he pulled over to confront Crawford, who was sitting in his car on the shoulder of the road, because he felt that Crawford had been following him around town. "I just wanted to tell him I was sorry about everything that's happened," he told the court. Brooks, who is suing Crawford and the city of Gold Hill for $500,000, testified that Crawford tearfully asked him to recant his statements about the assault. "I've got the feeling that he's pissed at me," Brooks told the court. "I don't want anything to happen to me or my family." At least three women, including Gold Hill City Council member Lisa Alexander, attended the hearing in support of Crawford. One of them repeatedly scoffed out loud while Brooks testified. Under cross examination, Brooks acknowledged Crawford never got out of his car and never threatened him. In fact, he described himself as a reluctant witness in the entire matter. He noted that a bystander reported the original assault and that his mother-in-law reported the alleged probation violation. "I don't want any more trouble, all right?" he said, adding that he plans to move away soon. Crawford did not take the stand. His probation officer testified that he admitted the encounter. Grants Pass defense attorney Dan Simcoe argued his client was not guilty of violating the spirit of the law because Brooks initiated the contact and no threats were made. "Mr. Brooks clearly wanted to say something" to Crawford, Simcoe said. "This is incidental contact." But the judge was more interested in the letter of the law. She warned Crawford that regardless of who initiated the contact, it was his duty to "walk away" from any situation that might imperil his probation. "You are the one who is ordered to have no contact, not the victim," she told Crawford. "The responsibility is on you." She then issued the 10-day sanction. Since Crawford had already served 11 days, he was eligible for immediate release. He was not given credit for the extra day. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA