EX-COP ENTERS NOT-GUILTY PLEA IN GRENADE CASE

A former Jefferson police captain pleaded not guilty Friday to violating
federal firearms laws for having a grenade and a handgun in his car when he
tried to contact his estranged wife in violation of a protective order.

Dennis L. Thomas, 49, appeared before a U.S. magistrate in Gainesville to
plead to a federal indictment charging him with possession of a firearm
while being a drug user and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Jackson County sheriff's deputies arrested Thomas Oct. 7 after he violated
a court order barring him from contacting his estranged wife. After his
arrest, deputies searched Thomas's car and home and found cocaine, a
grenade and other weapons.

A federal grand jury indicted Thomas on Tuesday, and he is held without
bond in the Jackson County Jail.

Thomas faces state charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to
distribute and stalking.

Dates have not been set for either trial.

"This is a sad case of a former law enforcement officer, who rose to the
rank of captain but is now alleged to be a drug user in possession of a
gun," U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said in a prepared statement. "Even
worse, this former officer was allegedly found in possession of a hand
grenade, a dangerous device that has no legitimate civilian purpose."

Sheriff's deputies arrested Thomas after finding him about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 7
outside the house where his wife was staying, screaming her name, according
to a Jackson County Sheriff's Department report. He had a crack pipe, a
screwdriver, pliers and several flashlights in his pockets, deputies said.

While searching his car and home, deputies found crack cocaine, hand
grenades and other weapons. They contacted investigators from the federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Jackson County
Chief Deputy David Cochran.

Jefferson Police Chief Joe Wirthman fired Thomas in August 2007 for failing
to show up for a work-related drug test, Wirthman said.