Just weeks after being voted into a four-year term of office, Sampson County Register of Deeds Eleanor Bradshaw was cited for failure to heed light or siren by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Her attorney, Doug Parsons, said his client is innocent of the traffic charge leveled against here.

Reports obtained by The Sampson Independent from the Sampson County Courthouse Tuesday show that on Nov. 25, 2008 at 3:04 p.m., Trooper J.O. David pulled Bradshaw’s 2008 white Honda van over in Newton Grove on U.S. 701 (near Carr Church Road) after she failed to pull over for his blue lights.

“ ... I passed one car that pulled over and this car (Bradshaw’s) stopped in the middle of the road, and when I went to go around, she made an abrupt left turn in front of me, almost causing a collision,” David said in his officer comments. “My emergency equipment was activated, and she was aware I was behind her.”

Parson said he has investigated this matter and sees the incident differently. “Mrs. Bradshaw was in an intersection waiting on a passing car to make a left turn; the officer came up behind her, trying to catch a speeding vehicle in front of her. She simply sat where she already was and then made a safe left turn,” Parsons said.

“She has not violated any law and there is no question in my mind that this will be clearly shown when this matter is heard in court.”

Bradshaw’s trial date has been set for Feb. 9.