Former Walthourville Police Chief Bernie Quarterman claims the city’s mayor tried to pressure him into planting drugs to frame a city council member Larry Baker, according to a letter to Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal from Georgia NAACP President Phyllis Blake.

Quarterman has repeatedly said he and his department were the subject of harassment and retaliation from the Walthourville Mayor Daisy Pray and Jones.

Thursday, the Courier obtained a copy of a letter written by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Georgia State Conference President, Phyllis T. Blake. The letter dated Jan. 2 alleges that Mayor Pray pressured the outgoing Chief, “to conspire to frame a city council member by placing narcotics in the city council member’s vehicle.”

The letter alleges Pray made the request multiple times and that Pray, “has made threats of physical violence and death to chief Quarterman.”

The Letter was addressed and mailed to Governor Nathan Deal’s Office. A copy of the letter was sent to GBI Director Vernon M. Keenan. According to Liberty County NAACP Branch Director Graylan Quarterman, the allegations have also been reported to the FBI, DOJ and the local District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Tom Durden confirmed he was alerted to certain allegations but said he couldn’t comment on the matter at this time.

Pray denies the allegations.

“After I took the appropriate termination action against our former Chief of Police, I have now been confronted with false, scandalous, scurrilous, and defamatory allegations of wrongdoing,” Pray responded by email Thursday. “I categorically and unequivocally deny the statement made against me. The allegation is a continuation of former Chief Quarterman's campaign to deflect and evade accountability and responsibility for his gross misconduct and professional incompetence. I regret the citizens of Walthourville are again subjected to his lies, misrepresentations, and falsehoods.” 

More on this story to come.