Fired Trooper to Appeal His Dismissal

Raleigh, N.C. — A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who was dismissed from his position will appeal the decision, he said through his attorney’s office Friday.

Scott Harrison, whose professionalism in a series of traffic arrests had been questioned in recent months after accusations that he profiled young women for late-night traffic stops, was dismissed from his duties at 4 p.m. Friday, patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said.

After a judge ruled on Aug. 8 that Harrison was "unworthy of belief" in a drunken-driving case involving a female defendant, Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby dismissed dozen of cases, 28 drunken-driving, brought by the trooper.

Willoughby said Harrison's credibility was a key factor in prosecuting the cases, and without his testimony, prosecutors couldn't adequately do it.

Charges against another 20 to 30 defendants could be dropped in early September, he said.

Harrison, 31, who was with the Highway Patrol since 2002, was known for taking a tough stance on drunken driving, but his credibility was called into question in March by defense attorneys Bill Young and James Crouch.

Young cited concerns from female clients about "flirtatious" comments Harrison allegedly made to them. Crouch accused him of assaulting a handcuffed Holly Springs man in the processing area of the Wake County Jail.

Harrison has adamantly denied those claims.

The Highway Patrol placed Harrison on administrative duty in March while administrators conducted an internal investigation into the allegations.

Clendenin had no further comment about the case Friday.