Retired Huntsville police officer, former head of Huntsville Crime Stoppers arrested

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The retired head of the Huntsville Area Crime Stoppers program has been arrested.

Nathan Nickelson, a 29-year veteran of the Huntsville Police Department, was booked and then released from the Madison County Jail Thursday evening. Jail records show he was arrested on a felony warrant and booked at 10:04 p.m. and released at 10:32 p.m. on a $10,000 bond. No other details are listed.

New 19 has reached out to the Huntsville Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Alabama Attorney General’s office for more information on the charges Nickelson is facing.

Nickelson was involved in the Crime Stoppers organization for more than 20 years, according to the Huntsville Police Department. He received commendations and recognition for his role leading the local Crime Stoppers organization.

The non-profit takes donations and provides people with up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of “felony crime offenders,” according to its website.

Nickelson was recognized for his role in leading Crime Stoppers at the organization’s 40^th anniversary.

The site describes its mission as, “Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.”

At Nickelson’s retirement in August 2024, top law enforcement officials in Huntsville and Madison County turned out, including Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles and Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner.