Charge against former policeman dropped, subject to appeal

A former Walhalla policeman won a favorable court ruling today in his defense against a charge that he struck a man in the head during a call to an apartment project.  Zach Covington lost his job as the result of an incident alleged to have occurred October 18 at the Walhalla Gardens Apartments.  Covington confirmed talk that as the result of a proceeding today in Magistrate’s court, a charge of assault and battery third degree against him was dismissed.  The ruling is subject to an appeal by the prosecution.  Sources say this morning’s proceeding in front of Magistrate Will Derrick was scheduled as a pre-trial conference.  However, Covington’s attorney successfully moved for a trial before Derrick and, with the prosecution not represented, the magistrate dismissed the charge.  101.7 WGOG NEWS left call back messages with the office of Covington’s defense attorney, Gordon Senerius.