Jackson Free Press

*JFP Exclusive*

Also see Schwindaman's cartoon story: Adventures of Above-the-Law Man!

A teenager accused of helping Mayor Frank Melton demolish a duplex on Ridgeway Street while out on bond for armed robbery has been arrested again for armed carjacking, as revealed Monday night at jacksonfreepress.com. The Nov. 18 arrest of Michael Taylor, who reported his address as Melton's 2 Carter's Grove home, came three days after the mayor himself copped a plea deal for felony and misdemeanor gun violations, leaving him on a year's probation.

Melton is under five felony indictments, facing up to 50 years in prison, for the Aug. 26 Ridgeway Street demolition. The most serious charge is for allegedly inducing a minor—Taylor—to commit a felony. Taylor is not charged in that case because an adult—Melton—is under felony indictment in his stead, because investigators say he ordered Taylor to commit the crime.

Taylor, born Sept. 4, 1989, according to Melton's Sept. 15 indictment, was 16 when he allegedly helped Melton and his nighttime entourage destroy the Ridgeway Street duplex with a sledgehammer on Aug. 26, as first reported by the Jackson Free Press. Taylor was part of a "lawn crew" that Melton had reportedly put on the city payroll in order to help clean up around the city, and had been living in Melton's home for several months. Neighbors who know Taylor from the Wood Street area, where he grew up, say his street nickname is "Lil Noonie."

The young man has already led a storied existence under the guidance of Melton. Taylor was spotted at a televised barbeque at the mayor's home in June and recognized as a suspect wanted for ducking court in armed-robbery charges, along with Jermaine Bruntson, for a crime committed in late 2005. Melton initially refused to turn Taylor over to the Hinds County sheriffs' office when they tried to arrest Taylor in June—reportedly driving Taylor away from Hinds County deputies in an SUV—but later handed the young man over for arrest after a phone call from Sheriff Malcolm McMillin. Taylor is now out on bond for that charge—which has not yet come to trial.

While awaiting that trial, Taylor joined Melton's "lawn crew" in late summer and began accompanying him on his "raids" in neighborhoods such as the Virden Addition. Melton's Sept. 15 indictment states that he and his police-officer bodyguards, Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, caused and/or directed Taylor to commit malicious mischief by helping destroy the duplex on Ridgeway Street where schizophrenic Evans Welch lived, which is owned by landlord Jennifer Sutton. The entourage did not have a warrant to enter the duplex and found no drugs inside.

Now Taylor, who is accused of committing another felony while out on bond for the 2005 armed robbery, is currently in the Hinds County Detention Center and is awaiting indictment for the new armed carjacking charge. Under Melton's probation, he is forbidden to have a minor living in his home or under his care.

WAPT reported Tuesday that carjacking is up 57 percent in Jackson this year over the same period over 2005.

Comment on this story and watch for updates, and other breaking news, at jacksonfreepress.com

Previous Comments

ID

124722

Comment

...while out on bond for armed robbery has been arrested again for armed carjacking. The Nov. 18 arrest of Michael Taylor, who registers his address at Melton’s 2 Carter’s Grove home, came three days after the mayor himself took a plea deal for felony and misdemeanor gun violations... I guess we know where Melton left his guns since he's on probation. Can we get a "He's just learning," from the Meltonites! I think this would be an important time to mention this article that was in today's Ledge about an even higher increase in armed robberies! I guess the paper is just picking on Melton as his supporters and metro cheerleaders like to say. The article can be summed up in the header: In northeast Jackson, increase hit 238 percent; crime jump stumps police Now to all those who are going to continue to say that Melton is the answer to crime in Jackson, read the above JFP article, then the Ledge. Take thumb out of back-end and point it at oneself!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-12-05T00:18:47-06:00

ID

124723

Comment

Oh yeah, and we might as well throw out there that Melton went on a firing binge today acording to news reports on WAPT. Hope to see more here about it. Not feeling too cheering about christmas right now, Grinch Frank is about...

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-12-05T00:25:15-06:00

ID

124724

Comment

BTW: re Taylor's arrest NOV. 18TH 2006, NOV. 18TH 2006, NOV. 18TH 2006, NOV. 18TH 2006, NOV. 18TH 2006, NOV. 18TH 2006!!!!! Hello city council? Any interest in an investigation yet?

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-12-05T00:31:16-06:00

ID

124725

Comment

I guess that it's really true..........Birds of a feather, flock together. Give it a little time and Melton will have as many felonies on record as the youths that he is trying to "save". I saw the story on tv last night about Melton's getting ready to fire some more city employees. This is just proof that Melton has no plans to change for the better. This is the second year running that he ruins Christmas for city employees. Mayby we should give the mayor an early Christmas present for next year and send him to the unemployment line also. This young man Taylor and many others need REAL help. They are not going to stop as long as Melton is around to cover for them. The police department is trying to refute the new crime statistics but all one has to do is just look around or just pay a little attention to their surroundings. The mayor asked a question a few months ago, "the question is Do you feel safe"? The answer is HELL NO!

Author

lance

Date

2006-12-05T07:18:35-06:00

ID

124726

Comment

Evict Melton!

Author

kaust

Date

2006-12-05T08:01:42-06:00

ID

124727

Comment

The new City Jail should be located at 2 Carter's Grove. Seems like many of its future inmates are already residing there.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-12-05T08:53:42-06:00

ID

124728

Comment

Frank understands nervous energy. He also understands an idle and sociopathic mind. He knew if he gave Taylor some honest task to destroy something Taylor wouldn't arm rob or car-jack anyone. Taking away the pimp-mobile has rendered Frank's super-hero prowess powerless. No wonder his boys are going astray.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-12-05T10:53:46-06:00

ID

124729

Comment

Ray what are you saying in that post? I'm not sure I'm reading it right. My take on this is more along the lines of Frank keeping those close to him that can incriminate him. Something like the birds of a feather flocking together. But moreso the eagle leading the birds to the flock and thus teaching them this terrible behavior or even endulging in the behavior and thereby teaching and seemingly contributing to the lack of positivity that he tries to convience us that lies beneath all his antics. Basically he is leading by example that you can be a criminal as long as you do the right things to keep from getting caught. And the more bite you have, you have a better chance at making people believe you lack stability mentally and thus offers an excuse to disobey laws and to walk around like Wyatt Erp (or whatever that fella from Tombstone is named).

Author

Queen601

Date

2006-12-05T13:23:06-06:00

ID

124730

Comment

Queeen, you know I'm practicing comedy half the time when discussing Frank. He's a comedian's dream. Too bad he's not in LA or NY where they have really good writers and comedians. Your commentary is probably the correct take of the matter. I do believe Frank has some gentle unresolved ganster or thug urgings. If he weren't gentle he probably would have roughed me up a couple of times for making fun of him. I can picture him smoking or drinking and rocking to rap lyrics with his "mind on his money and his money on his mind (while) laid back." Giving wayward or at risk boys something constructive to do is a good decision. However, I think we would all agree Frank is a bad role model. Telling Taylor to tear down Welsh's house has sealed the deal against Frank's sanity and fitness to be a role model. Not to mention mayor of any city.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-12-05T13:43:16-06:00

ID

124731

Comment

You're right. But this whole taking in little young dudes to reform them and have them in his home, that is a ridiculous notion in itself. And it was learning about that, that made me first begin to think that this fellas elevator stops about halfway up. I think that's inappropriate on so many levels. Plus it is clear that his reform tatics are NOT WORKING for any involved. So what's the point? Is there another reason for the underaged roomates???? Hmmmm.

Author

Queen601

Date

2006-12-05T13:47:28-06:00

ID

124732

Comment

This ia an update off the Ledger. Michael Taylor tried to sell the car back to the victim. When he stole the car, he displayed "a large caliber handgun". His address is lisyed as Frank Melton's home in NE Jackson. Isn't this a violation of Melton's bond with the guns and the underaged youths?

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2006-12-05T17:39:21-06:00

ID

124733

Comment

Here's the link Cliff mentioned.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2006-12-05T18:04:27-06:00

ID

124734

Comment

whoops... I thought I posted it! :)

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2006-12-05T18:07:39-06:00

ID

124735

Comment

I thought all the clowns on this site were up in arms over the local television media and The Clarion-Ledger revealing the identities of minors? Shame.

Author

Skinnyp

Date

2006-12-05T18:59:28-06:00

ID

124736

Comment

Well, once the cat is out of the bag...

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-12-05T19:53:12-06:00

ID

124737

Comment

No, in many ways, Skinnyp is right. This case is what I would argue is an exception, and here's why: Melton openly reveals the identity of the young men who live in his home, or at least many of them. They are thus placed in the spotlight in ways that I think could be harmful to them. This is a rare example of a time when I think that a young accused might be better off in plain view, so to speak. Now, that doesn't mean I would have been the first outlet to reveal his identity still, but considering the spotlight Mr. Melton puts him in, I don't think that hiding is identity will help him. However, I respect if others disagree with that. Also, it seems clear to me that this young man needs help and intervention—far beyond living with a man who seems to be placing him in harm's way or, if the investigators and witnesses are correct, urging him to commit very serious crimes. If revealing his identity and situation might finally get the state to start paying attention to the situation these young men are in, then it's fully worth it. I'd also bet that Skinnyp's highest priority here is not getting young Mr. Taylor help; it's probably more about telling off the "clowns." If I'm wrong, Skinnyp, I apologize in advance.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-05T20:15:43-06:00

ID

124738

Comment

It is funny that the JFP would criticize Melton every chance they get, yet use him as an excuse to justify the same thing the “clowns” were condemning in separate responses a week ago. I can’t remember Melton willfully placing these people in the spotlight. I do see the media placing the minors in the spotlight because they are always following the Mayor (rightfully so he IS the mayor). I think this is where ethics come into play. One has to step in and protect rather than produce a dynamic lead. What does Mr. Taylor gain by being given an opportunity to be in plain view? I’m sure he is not going to discredit Melton who has housed this person when no one else seems to be doing that sort of thing in the Metro area. I don’t want to get a criminal help, I want to get them inside of a jail where Mr. Taylor obviously belongs. I’m not sure if the JFP had a plan to help Mr. Taylor either. wrong + wrong = ?

Author

Skinnyp

Date

2006-12-05T20:39:14-06:00

ID

124739

Comment

It's plainly evident that living with Mr Melton hasn't rehabilitated Young Mr Taylor any.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-12-05T21:48:47-06:00

ID

124740

Comment

How do we know Melton is trying to rehabilitate Taylor?

Author

Skinnyp

Date

2006-12-05T22:57:59-06:00

ID

124741

Comment

I'm not sure if you've heard Mr Melton speak over the years or such, but he has always claimed to be working for today's youth and trying to improve their lot. In the past, a lot of his claims were taken at face value. Now, with his faults held up for all to see, we now have to question everything he's ever done with these kids. Personally, I wonder how big of an influence he's been on his own kids.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-12-05T23:02:01-06:00

ID

124742

Comment

Michael Taylor tried to sell the car back to the victim. Now where would a young mind get the idea to actually extort the victim of his crime to get their valuables back? In other news: Dumb Criminals Busted Everyday! Who bailed him out? And so far no one is really harping on the fact that we are only finding out about this almost 3 weeks after it happened! That is the bigger issue here. How was this covered up for this long? Same thing happened with the kid on probation who failed the drug test (several times) while shacking up at Carter's Grove. The "Taylor's in the backseat" Sheriff's incident. The MBN lawsuit. Etc....

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-12-06T00:12:27-06:00

ID

124743

Comment

To answer Ironghost: Obviously Melton hasn't had any influence on his own kids because they seem to be on the straight and narrow. It seems that every time one of "Frank's Kids" gets into trouble, he hasn't lived with Frank (according to Frank) for a couple of weeks. Where was he? I bet if you go to Frank's you'll find his clothes, toothbrush, etc. And Frank says he wasn't involved in the carjacking. He had the car, where did he get it from?

Author

Constituent

Date

2006-12-06T10:22:03-06:00

ID

124744

Comment

Skinny, If Melton was not trying to rehabilitate Taylor, then why was he hanging out with a juvenile felon? It seems to me that an attempt to rehabilitate Taylor--an effort at the heart of Melton's entire world-view, as far as I can tell--is the only possible justification for Melton having these troubled kids live at his house. There is a very good reason the court forbid Melton from hanging out with juvenilies: Instead of keeping them out of trouble, he orders them into it. At least, that is the case where Taylor is concerned. If Taylor was living there after Melton Sep. 15, then Melton has violated the terms of his bond and the court should take appropriate action. As for identifying a juvenile, the fact is that Taylor was named in Melton's indictment. That pretty much blows his cover. Since taking office, Melton has dragged children into the spotlight with him. You could see this on any one of his raids, when he would take kids aside and lecture them in front of the TV cameras. Melton could easily have asked for privacy, but the point is that he did not even want it. He wanted people to see the show. It was not the media that took a scared 10-year-old boy up on stage before hundreds of city dignitaries at the first crime summit. That was Melton. We did not name that child. Considering all the circumstances, I think naming Taylor is reasonable and ethical.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2006-12-06T10:30:22-06:00

ID

124745

Comment

Skinnyp, you don't know how many young men Mr. Melton introduced me to at his house, and asked me to interview, regardless of their comfort level with the process. Now, he was certainly trying to show me that it was safe and positive for them there; he was serving his own agenda by trying to get them into the spotlight. I haven't published all of those interviews, yet. What Michael Taylor gains by being in plain view, hopefully, is more attention to Mr. Melton's style of "rehabilitation"—which is exactly what he claims to be doing. He told me specifically in our interviews that he didn't have much success with the young men who lives with them years ago—many of them have been arrested, indicted and/or imprisoned for serious crimes including murder, assault, burglary, drug sales and so on. However, he emphasized that the kids who are living with him now are good kids who are staying out of trouble. However, that does not match what is going on with Mr. Taylor. I feel sorry for him and the messages he's been given by Mr. Melton, who is accused of using him to help commit a serious felony and then, it seems, Mr. Taylor went back to live at Mr. Melton's house. The same can be said for Christopher Walker—he failed some dozen drug tests during the most recent time he was living in Mr. Melton's home leading up to the Batman trial. Skinnyp, I don't know who you are—haven't tried to figure it out—but are clearly trying to shift attention away to a very serious issue here. I find that curious and sad.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-06T11:28:07-06:00

ID

124746

Comment

What I want to know is: Where the hell has the state been all these years? Of course, we know what they have allowed to happen in the training schools. I'm sure they don't give a damn about what is happening with these young men. What's up, Col. Don Taylor? What are you going to do about this, and your friend Frank Melton? Does the state give a damn about the young men of Jackson?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-06T11:31:07-06:00

ID

124747

Comment

Also, it is a vital question why Sheriff McMillin did not announce this arrest when it happened, considering the circumstances. This town is just filled with frackin' mysteries.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-06T11:32:08-06:00

ID

124748

Comment

Well, guess we don't need a jury now; Frank Melton will just annoint the guilty and the innocent: Clarion-Ledger today (following up our breaking story, which they didn't credit, of course; schmucks): Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said Tuesday that 17-year-old Michael Taylor is not guilty of carjacking, despite his arrest on the charge by Jackson police last month. Taylor, who has lived with Melton for much of the year, was arrested Nov. 18 while attempting to sell a stolen car back to the person he allegedly stole it from. According to Jackson police, a woman driving a silver 2001 Saturn approached Taylor at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the intersection of Bailey Avenue and Maple Street to ask directions. Taylor allegedly pointed a "large-caliber handgun" at the woman and took the car. After taking the car, police say Taylor attempted to sell the car back. "He had contacted her on her cell phone that was taken during the carjacking," Jackson Police spokesman Cmdr. Lee Vance said. "The victim contacted police, and arrangements were made to meet the suspect at a north Jackson convenience store." Melton said Taylor attempted to sell the car back to the woman for $300, but "he wasn't actually involved in the carjacking of the car." Vance said Taylor was arrested without incident and still is in jail. No weapon was found when he was arrested, Vance said. At the time of his arrest, Taylor gave Melton's northeast Jackson home as his address. Melton said Taylor had not lived at the house for three or four weeks prior to his arrest. This one's pretty amazing, too, considering that both Melton and Recio are under indictment for causing Mr. Taylor to commit a felony: Recio, a confidante of the mayor, said Melton should not be "crucified" for charges brought against Taylor. Melton works with a lot of troubled young people in an attempt to get their lives back on track, he said. "You win some, and you lose some," Recio said. "He offers that help and support, (but) he can't make them take that help and support."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-06T12:30:24-06:00

ID

124749

Comment

I wish we could get a list of the boys that Frank has had live with him and compare the success stories with the failures. Frank knows more criminals than anyone in Jackson! I wonder if there is a direct relation to northeast Jackson's increase in crime and Frank's boys moving out of his house?

Author

Fitz

Date

2006-12-06T13:38:06-06:00

ID

124750

Comment

Well, certainly, if Mr. Taylor committed this carjacking crime (or sellback) just weeks after moving out of Melton's house, as the mayor claims, then perhaps it was because he needed money. The point here, of course, is that these young men need actual help, not to be come part of Melton's cops-and-robbers shoot-em-up Fantasyland. It is quite possible that he has directly, or indirectly, created some of the problems he claims to be fighting by picking certain young men to lift above the law alongside him, while destroying homes of other ones. Either way, I don't see any of these young men actually getting *help*. Speaking of "above the law," be sure to see Darren's full-page cartoon in the JFP today. It's called "Adventures of Above-the-Law Man." ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-06T15:38:48-06:00

ID

124751

Comment

Since Recio said "you win some, you lose some", I would like to know of a winner. It seems that lately the crimes that are being committed come straight from the Mayor's house. Maybe we should take some sledgehammers and tear that house down. It too seems to be a house of crime.

Author

Constituent

Date

2006-12-06T16:06:35-06:00

ID

124752

Comment

I wish we could get a list of the boys that Frank has had live with him and compare the success stories with the failures. -Fitz AMEN! Melton has always been too close to the criminal element for me. I have never seen anyone so close to both sides of the law. This could very well blow up in Melton's face. He has too many people that close to him to realistically think that they all will protect him. This is going to be very, very, interesting.

Author

lance

Date

2006-12-06T19:53:52-06:00

ID

124753

Comment

**What I want to know is: Where the hell has the state been all these years? Of course, we know what they have allowed to happen in the training schools. I'm sure they don't give a damn about what is happening with these young men. What's up, Col. Don Taylor? What are you going to do about this, and your friend Frank Melton? Does the state give a damn about the young men of Jackson?** <--Ladd That's a very interesting question, Ladd, and one that merits being asked of Col. Taylor, Executive Director of MS Department of Human Services. How is that Melton can be allowed to keep these minors in his home as part of his own self-styled 'mentoring' program? Surely there must be a state law that addresses such. For example, a private citizen can care for 4 children in their home (while the parents work, attend school, etc.). However, if that same person cares for five or more children, they are required to have been licensed by the MS Department of Health and be subject to routine inspections and monitoring. I can't believe that there isn't a similar law regarding the in-home care of non-emancipated minors.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-12-07T17:48:05-06:00

ID

124754

Comment

I believe that Jackson has an ordinance stating that no more than six unrelated persons can live in a single family home. After that it becomes a 'group home' and is subject to additional inspections and permits.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-12-08T10:31:32-06:00