TIMELINE: Police Chief Ricky Ramie arrested for hit-and-run after leaving a bar
Documents and video included
Dec. 30, 2023 - Ramie crashed into parked car at 3:30 a.m. after leaving Ms. Newby’s. He left the scene of the accident without leaving his contact information.
“I think in the middle of January” - Lynn Haven City Manager Vickie Gainer said that’s when Chief Ramie first informed her that he had been involved in an accident. Ramie told her, “I did leave but we did exchange information.”
Jan. 22, 2024 - City Manager Vickie Gainer said State Attorney Larry Basford told her that he had met with “some highway patrolman” who said he was going to bring charges. Gainer said she had no idea until Basford informed her.
Jan. 24, 2024 - State Attorney Larry Basford recused himself and sent a letter to Gov. DeSantis asking for an executive order to reassign the case to another State Attorney.
Feb. 6, 2024 - FHP arrests Chief Ramie for “leaving the scene of an accident with damages more than $50.” He is not taken to jail, but rather receives an arraignment date of Feb. 23 with Judge Joe Grammer. It’s a second-degree misdemeanor.
Feb. 9, 2024 - City Manager Vickie Gainer said that the FHP called Chief Ramie and told him that he would receive three civil traffic citations. Ramie called her and said that he had to pay the tickets on Monday, and “everything is fine.”
Feb. 11, 2024 (Sunday) - Chief Ramie paid the three traffic citations, according to City Manager Vickie Gainer.
Feb. 12, 2024 - City Manager Vickie Gainer said that (Ramie) “came in and made me aware on the 12th that there’s another criminal charge that’s been uploaded. And that, but he had talked to FHP (Capt. Robert Ifft) and they told him that is something that should not have been uploaded, and it was a mistake. And they would get it taken care of. Little did anyone know that FHP had uploaded a document on the 6th. And so when Chief Ramie went to, uh, pay his infractions like he was told, that’s when he saw that. And, uh, that was on the 11th.”
Feb. 14, 2024 - The Burnie Thompson Show breaks the story on Facebook: “Lynn Haven Police Chief Ricky Ramie was arrested.”
Feb. 15, 2024 - WMBB-TV News story, “Lynn Haven Police Chief accused of leaving the scene of an accident.”
Feb. 15, 2024 - Ramie releases a statement claiming that he forgot to leave his contact information because he was experiencing “a medical condition.”
Feb. 16, 2024 - Judge Joe Grammer recuses himself; Judge Shane Vann assigned.
Feb. 21, 2024 - Ramie retains defense attorney Waylon Graham. Motions filed to waive arraignment, pleads not guilty, and requests jury trial.
Feb. 22, 2024 - Gov. DeSantis issues executive order assigning the case to State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden, 1st Judicial District. Both State Attorney Larry Basford and Gov. DeSantis indicate Ramie “left the scene of an accident WITH INJURY.”
Feb. 23, 2024 - Lynn Haven City Manager Vickie Gainer provides timeline and description during pre-commission meeting. She says that “until jurisdiction is given by the Governor, the “First Circuit Court (sic) cannot move forward.” She meant to say that State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden of the First Judicial Circuit had no authority to act until the Governor appointed her via executive order (signed on Feb. 22). However, the additional traffic citation for Careless Driving issued by the FHP on Feb. 9 clearly indicates that it was “per SAO in Pensacola.” That’s nearly two week’s prior to Gov. DeSantis’ vesting authority in the First Circuit.
Thanks Burnie.