A retired Dickson police officer and his spouse were charged last fall with
felony theft and several counts of worthless checks.
Joseph Patrick “Pat” Martin, 52, and Chasity Leah (Givens) Martin, 28, both
of Dickson, will appear Jan. 31 in Dickson County General Sessions Court.
Pat Martin retired Nov. 5 from the Dickson Police Department as a patrol
officer after nearly 20 years of service. He was arrested Aug. 9 for two counts
of felony worthless checks and one misdemeanor count of worthless check.
Dickson Police Chief Rick Chandler reported Martin was placed on
administrative leave with pay after the arrest, and he elected to retire.
According to an affidavit, Martin wrote checks to spouse, Chasity Givens
for $380 on July 19; $580 on July 29; and $640 on July 31, which Givens
allegedly passed at the CeeBee store in Charlotte with insufficient funds.
Martin, along with Givens, faces a felony theft charge for allegedly
“participat(ing) with his wife” in the theft of a purse Nov. 8 from his
sister-in-law. The purse’s contents were valued at $1,016, and included over
$400 cash and pills.
According to a Nov. 15 affidavit, Martin “pretended” to talk with police
officers, who came to arrest Givens’ sister and another person, “so that (the
victims) would hide in the closet.”
“There were actually no law enforcement officers at the residence,” the
affidavit reported.
Martin allegedly drove Givens and the purse away in his truck.
Givens is charged with four additional felony theft counts.
From Aug. 20-Sept. 19, a victim allegedly gave Givens $575 toward rent, pet
deposit and utilities for a house, but later learned the suspect “doesn’t even
own a rental house,” an affidavit noted.
On Aug. 20-24, Givens allegedly wrote three checks – for $920, $670 and
$1,284 – from the account of another person to third party, “without the
knowledge, permission or consent” of the account holder, according to a Nov. 15
affidavit. The checks then were cashed at the CeeBee store in Charlotte.
Martin was released from jail in lieu of $1,000 bond. Givens was released
in lieu of $5,000 bond.
Martin went to work for Dickson city in 1989 in the animal control
department, before becoming a patrol officer in 1995.
Seven months before the alleged incidents began, Martin’s daughter, Ashlee
Long was found dead in her home of an apparent homicide. Ashlee’s spouse,
Morris Long II is charged with first-degree murder for her death, and awaiting
trial.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation worked the murder case with the
Dickson Police Department.
