A Centre, Alabama woman has filed a lawsuit against Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader and a sheriff’s office employee, claiming she was seriously injured while being transported in a sheriff’s office vehicle that crashed last year.
According to court records, Charity Rodriguez Perez alleges she was a handcuffed detainee being transported in a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office van on July 25, 2025, when the vehicle was involved in a crash on Gore-Subligna Road near Ballenger Road.
The lawsuit states that Caden Anthony Wofford, who was driving the vehicle, lost control of the van, causing it to leave the roadway, enter a ditch and collide with a concrete culvert.
Perez claims she was riding in the rear compartment of a 2007 Ford Econoline van at the time of the wreck. The complaint alleges the detainee section of the vehicle was not equipped with seatbelts or other passenger restraints and that she was not provided a seatbelt. Court documents further state she was handcuffed and shackled during the transport.
According to the lawsuit, Perez suffered injuries to her head, chest, right hip and left knee, as well as emotional and psychological harm. The filing states her medical expenses have exceeded $38,600 and alleges she may require additional treatment in the future.
The complaint accuses Wofford of negligence, alleging he failed to maintain proper control of the vehicle and did not exercise the level of care necessary to protect passengers in his custody.
Sheriff Schrader is also named as a defendant in his official capacity. Perez alleges the sheriff was responsible for the vehicle and that Wofford was acting with the sheriff’s authorization when the crash occurred. The lawsuit further claims Schrader was negligent in the hiring, training, supervision and retention of the employee.
Before filing suit, Perez’s attorneys sent formal notice of the claim to Sheriff Schrader, Chattooga County officials and Sole Commissioner Andy Allen in late December 2025, according to court documents.
The lawsuit states county officials later made a settlement offer, but Perez declined it, alleging the amount offered was less than her documented medical expenses.
Perez is seeking compensation for medical costs, additional damages to be determined at trial, litigation expenses and attorney’s fees. She has also requested that the case be heard by a jury.
The lawsuit was filed in Chattooga County State Court in August 2026.
The allegations contained in the complaint are claims made by the plaintiff. The defendants have not been found liable, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
