Former Officer Charged With Manslaughter In Hot Car Death

LONG BEACH (WCBI) – A former Mississippi police officer has been released on $50,000 bail over the protests of the agency that arrested her on manslaughter charges in the death of her 3-year-old daughter.

BARKER

Former Long Beach Officer Cassie Barker, 27, turned herself in to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday afternoon. Chief Deputy Don Bass says Barker’s lawyers reached an agreement with Hancock County Justice Court Judge Tommy Carver before Barker arrived to set bail at $50,000.

Carver didn’t hold a hearing, prompting complaints from law enforcement. Bass says the sheriff’s office wanted a higher bail because investigators fear Barker might leave the state.

Officials quote Barker as saying she fell asleep Friday while visiting another officer, as her daughter sat in a running patrol car. The child was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at a hospital. The Long Beach Board of Aldermen on Tuesday fired Barker and the other officer, Sgt. Clark Ladner.

Officials don’t now plan to charge Ladner.