By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
Deputies determined that a former East Spencer police officerís involvement in a Christmas Party stun gun incident warranted an additional charge Friday afternoon.
Rowan County investigators charged James Christopher Lambeth with misdemeanor aiding and abetting as well as misdemeanor willful failure to discharge duties.
Lambeth is accused of providing his department-issued Taser to East Spencer Fire Chief Shane Cranfield at a Dec. 10 East Spencer Fire Department Christmas party.
Lambeth resigned from the department five days after the incident.
Investigators said Cranfield and former fire chief Allen Carlyle used the Taser on 18-year-old junior firefighter John Resino at least nine times.
The stun gun had been discharged 18 times in three minutes, deputies said. As many as eight people witnessed the incident.
Lambethís arrest warrants stated that the 40-year-old officer ěunlawfully and willfully did help Shane Cranfield commit an assault on John Resino by giving his Taser X-26 to Shane Cranfield, which contributed to the assault …î
Deputies said the three frightened Resino with the Taser about 6 p.m. at the party.
After seeing the Taser, Resino ran to a nearby room, but the two firefighters broke through the door and repeatedly shocked the North Rowan High School student.
Cranfield and Carlyle were charged with misdemeanor assault Thursday afternoon.
All three turned themselves in and were released on written promises to appear in court.
East Spencer Town Administrator Macon C. Sammons told the Post on Thursday that no action had been taken against the two firefighters, pending an internal investigation.
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246 or nhardin@salisburypost.com.