EMMANUEL LEWIS - OFFICER WHO LET LEWIS ESCAPE FINE IS REPRIMANDED

LATEST: A police officer who let former child star EMMANUEL LEWIS escape a speeding ticket in Georgia will now be reprimanded.

Former WEBSTER star Lewis was clocked driving at 70 miles per hour in a 45 miles-per-hour zone last week (ends15APR05), while he was towing a trailer loaded with a sports utility vehicle.

The 34-year-old actor got off with a verbal warning after handing over an autograph and posing for a photograph with police officer RON KIRK and the town's police chief.

Although police officers can use discretion in issuing tickets, the Warwick City Council concluded on Tuesday (19APR05) that Kirk's actions were improper. The council ordered that Kirk receive a written reprimand and that the police chief review his department's policies on giving verbal warnings.

Town lawyer TOMMY COLEMAN says he conducted an investigation and concluded the incident was "simply a mistake". Lewis didn't attempt to get out of the ticket, and Kirk didn't ask for anything before issuing the warning, the lawman explains.