Despite objections of the state, Judge Paul Sherling granted a third continuance of the trial of Brundidge Councilman Arthur Lee Griffin following a meeting in the judge’s chambers at the Coffee County Courthouse in Elba Thursday afternoon.

The trial was set for 2:30 p.m. in Coffee County District Court, but Griffin’s attorney, Joe Lampley, requested the continuance in order to have time to receive information that had been subpoenaed from the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Brundidge in June.

The charges against Griffin came as a result of a traffic stop April 2, involving Ozark resident Alfred Schultz, who signed a warrant for Griffin’s arrest.

According to the warrant, Schultz claimed Griffin assaulted him by shoving a shotgun into his neck while he was in handcuffs. Griffin pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Lampley told the judge that Schultz is an employee of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and information he provided on his employment application could be useful in the case against his client.

Following the meeting with the attorneys from both sides, Sherling granted the continuance.

He said he had contacted Wal-Mart officials at the home office in Bentonville, Ark. and was told that the information Lampley requested in the subpoena would be forthcoming.

Sherling set Griffin’s trial date on the next available court date, Nov. 12, with assurance from Lampley that he has no conflicts that would prevent him from being there.

Lampley said once he receives the subpoenaed records from Wal-Mart, he will make them available to the Coffee County District Attorneys Office.

The continuance is the third granted in the Griffin trial, which also involves the Brundidge Police Department.

Lampley said Sherling asked him not to comment on the case.

The attorneys for Schultz, Jeff Moore and Griffin Shirley, were in court and unavailable for comment.