LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – A Louisville woman accused of shoplifting who was shot by a constable has found herself in even more legal trouble.
Tammie Ortiz, also known as Tammy Jamian, is now accused of trafficking a controlled substance, buying or possessing drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence.
According to a police report, Ortiz was pulled over on Terry Road around 9:44 p.m. Tuesday for failing to use a turn signal. When she stopped, an officer noticed Ortiz tried to conceal a pill bottle between the driver's seat and door. When she was asked to step out of the vehicle, the bottle fell onto the road. Inside the bottle were pieces of crack cocaine. The officer also recovered a crack pipe, other drug paraphernalia and a prescription of hydrocodone.
In November, Ortiz was allegedly shot in the arm and face by Jefferson County constable David Whitlock after she was accused of shoplifting from a Pleasure Ridge Park Walmart.
Whitlock's attorney Brian Butler said of Ortiz' arrest, "There's not that many people out there that get arrested in two and half months time on two separate felonies."
Ortiz recent problems with the law certainly can't hurt constable David Whitlock.
It doesn't change the fact that Whitlock shot Ortiz in the November incident.
And it won't clear Whitlock's indictment after telling investigators he "accidentally fired" his gun.
But, in a civil proceeding against Whitlock and Walmart, Butler contends Ortiz' recent felony arrests and her long rap sheet may hurt her status as a victim of the store.
Butler told WAVE 3 News, "If you bring a priest in (to court) people know he's a priest and they're very likely to believe him but, you bring in someone in that's got a pretty checkered past and that's something that can affect how a jury looks at them."
WAVE 3 legal expert Bart Adams agrees. Even though Walmart security cameras show Ortiz putting down bags as she tries to exit the store. She denied shoplifting at the Walmart.
Adams says her recent run-ins with the law could damage her credibility and lessen any monetary judgement.
Whitlock faces felony charges of assault and wanton endangerment. He appeared in court on Monday and will be back in court on March 21.
Ortiz is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
(source: LMDC)
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WAVE, a Raycom Media Station. 