Jackson Free Press

BREAKING: Five or six sheriffs' cruisers came to rearrest Evans Welch at about 4 p.m. today, according to Evan's mother Louvenia Welch.

Evans was not at his parents' home on Derrick St. when the sheriffs arrived. They told Louvenia and Willie Welch that Evans had been released on Sept. 13 by mistake and would have to return to jail.

Louvenia Welch immediately called Evans' attorney, who called the sheriff's department. The sheriffs then told Louvenia that Evans would not have to return to jail. Instead, it was a "paperwork" problem that could be resolved the next day.

"They had five or six cars out here," Louvenia Welch said. "What has he done that they need to come out here like that?"

Update:

Today, Sheriff Malcom McMillin confirmed that at least five cruisers did come to rearrest Welch yesterday, though he said his department is no longer seeking Welch's arrest. He said that paperwork problems involved with Welch's release had been resolved.

"There was," McMillin said, confirming that at least five cruisers had come to arrest Welch, "but it was a mistake."

Previous Comments

ID

123466

Comment

I don't get this. Maybe they didn't like his interview. ;-) We'll stay close to this, folks. I don't like at all how Mr. Welch's "arrest" has transpired.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-13T18:27:34-06:00

ID

123467

Comment

Funny, that may explain why Welch is saying he wasn't hit by Melton or by a sledgehammer butt on WLBT. However, Evans Welch tells us today that he was actually hit by flying debris, and not at the hands of Melton. "Some guys were playing with sledgehammers. Not playing with it, knocking down stuff. Some stuff flew loose," he says. "Frank Melton (was) standing up there encouraging them to do it." Pretty obvious they noticed the article int he JFP and sped on over to get a camera op with Welch this afternoon. I guess Tyrone Lewis doesn't read the JFP online! JPD Commander Tyrone Lewis tells WLBT News he didn't know 46-year-old Evans Welch had been released from the Raymond Detention Center until we called and informed him Wednesday afternoon. I wonder what time this afternoon? Not good at all for Welch; but, does nothing for Melton since it was the home of someone else. Someone who is now suing the crap out of the City, the police department, Melton, and 10 unnamed police officers! Thanks melton! Thanks Danks, Bluntson, and now Mr. Evers!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-13T18:37:11-06:00

ID

123468

Comment

Keystone Cops, I see. Or Keystone Sherriffs.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-09-13T18:43:40-06:00

ID

123469

Comment

I don't know IG, none of this is seeming very funny right now.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-13T18:51:55-06:00

ID

123470

Comment

pikersam: I think it's safe to say that neither of us find the Keystone Kops funny. Neither of us enjoys comedies... This is more of a tragedy.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2006-09-13T18:53:33-06:00

ID

123471

Comment

Like the blues song, I smell a rat.

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2006-09-13T20:09:37-06:00

ID

123472

Comment

There's nothing remotely 'Keystone Copish' about this situation at all. This is a very serious situation in every respect.

Author

lucdix

Date

2006-09-13T20:36:38-06:00

ID

123473

Comment

Agreed. These are very, very serious charges. And law enforcement must treat Mr. Melton no differently than they would treat anyone else. It's the only message that is appropriate to send to the people of Jackson—especially to the neighborhoods where the victims of his tactics live. If the evidence is there, and it seems to be, he. must. be. prosecuted. There is no acceptable compromise.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-13T20:48:43-06:00

ID

123474

Comment

Dammit ladd, you outside agitators need to go back where you came from. This place was just fine before you and your kind started stirring everything up. I'm sick and damn tired of you outsiders from up north coming down here like you are holier than though and better than the rest of us and telling us how to run things. Go back where you came from and don't let the door hit ya on the way out. We don't need your kind down here ruining our great city.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-13T21:26:35-06:00

ID

123475

Comment

kingfish you are way off base. It is people like Ladd that have always been the voice for us all over the country. No one would know about the wrongs done to citizens of MS if it weren't for the ladds of the world. Go take a hot shower.

Author

jada

Date

2006-09-13T21:41:40-06:00

ID

123476

Comment

I think some sarcasm was missed somewhere...

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-09-13T21:49:24-06:00

ID

123477

Comment

Am I crazy? I'm worried about Evans Welch's safety. 'OK, you can leave the jail...OK, you've got to come back to jail..OK, your lawyer called, and you can clear up the 'paperwork' problem tomorrow.' And Evans saying tonight on the news that he was hit by flying debris, rather than the butt of a sledgehammer? Is someone trying to get to him? Is he safe? I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but I think this guy's been taken advantage of his whole life. HOPEFULLY, Sutton will receive some justice. But, boy, oh boy, Evans could fall through the cracks. He deserves justice, too!! It gives me comfort that Dennis Sweet has taken on his case..pro bono. Look out for Evans, Mr. Sweet. And, I have the utmost respect for you! Thanks for having the backs of BOTH Evans Welch and Jennifer Sutton. I've heard nothing but good things about you.

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-13T21:52:39-06:00

ID

123478

Comment

ok. as far as his conflicting testimony. Remember, he has a mental illness, schizophrenia. Keep that in mind. Stories may change. Having said that and incurring the wrath of Ali, There is alot of evidence besides his testimony . I'm glad a lawyer took up his case and hopefully justice will be served. You know what is funny, listen to some of the conservatives on Kim Wade today, and to be clear, alot of conservatives are against what Melton did, remember how they howled, and I was one of them, and screamed due process, rule of law, private property etc when it was Elian Gonzales but hey, this guy was a thug and criminal so who cares. The intellectually honest ones will be consistent but there were a couple that called in that were not.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-13T21:56:39-06:00

ID

123479

Comment

Maybe I'm off base, but I read Kingfish's diatribe as a mock N-JAMmer style criticism, not to be taken as a serious comment. It can be hard sometimes for me to detect the tongue-in-cheek on a message board.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-09-13T21:57:54-06:00

ID

123480

Comment

Yeah, but KF needs to learn the power of ;-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-13T22:12:24-06:00

ID

123481

Comment

Kingfish-my wrath has been calmed by Lexapro. THE NUMBER ONE DRUG IN AMERICA. Yes, this is including heroin. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-09-13T22:18:46-06:00

ID

123482

Comment

Kingfish-my wrath has been calmed by Lexapro. THE NUMBER ONE DRUG IN AMERICA. Yes, this is including heroin. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-09-13T22:18:47-06:00

ID

123483

Comment

Re the power of ;-) agreed. I don't read these forums often so I can't always recognize irony for what it is or what someone's 'normal' posts are like. The reason I can't? There are way too many people who *seriously* believe what Kingfish wrote tongue-in-cheek.

Author

lucdix

Date

2006-09-13T22:19:32-06:00

ID

123484

Comment

My cat just actually pressed "enter" before I was done. I blame Donna for this...she didnt' train "Jesus" well. He's now EATING the sandwich he just yanked out of my hand as I was typing that response. How can a cat both steal a sandwich and type at the same time? You don't know the power of the "Jesus". Kingfish- you will only get my "wrath" if you stick to your opinion and don't admit that things in this entire case are "dynamic" and could go either way. I believe Welch's family simply because I have seen SO many cases similiar to this one. Mentally ill and challenged individuals with multiple criminal charges that are there simply because of lack of supervision. This "lack of supervision" being brought on by a lack of funds by the family to adequately care for a mentally ill family member. This doesn't excuse Frank. He's got PLENTY of money to deal with his mental illness. I think we all agree something terribly wrong happened here. How we deal with it is the true issue.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-09-13T22:24:07-06:00

ID

123485

Comment

I'm hoping someone got the name of the deputies who showed up. On its face this certainly looks like cops trying to Welch so that he won't speak against Melton. Who were these cops? What evidence can they provide to justify their display of force?

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2006-09-13T22:33:50-06:00

ID

123486

Comment

Oh, yes, yes, yes Brent!..and I mean that as a reply to your last blog! I wrote in an earlier blog right after this week's Council meeting: "I was also at the Council meeting. Every time Stokes opened his mouth, it made me squirm in my seat. If the Council is worried about the city's liability, then someone needs to stuff a sock in Kenneth Stokes' mouth. He continued to INSIST that the Ridgeway home was a KNOWN crack house, and he intimated that Evans Welch is a crack dealer. Where's the evidence?? As of yesterday, Welch is only charged with possession of paraphernalia and contempt of court. I would think a case could be made for slander, both by Welch and homeowner Jennifer Sutton. Making REPEATED unsubstantiated allegations about crack cocaine is almost as irresponsible as taking a sledgehammer to a person's home." According to WAPT's report tonight, property owner Sutton's lawyer, Dennis Sweet, has also filed charges of slander for referring to Sutton's rental property as a 'crack house'. Ridgeway was no 'crack house'!! It was taken down as a statement to the community...'Don't f**k with me or my 'kids'. I'm going to use the most vulnerable man in your neighborhood to make this statement. And, I'll get away with it!!' Disclaimer: Of course this is just my opinion...a white person...who Stupidly believed in Melton initially...who now can't believe that this goes on in our City/State/Country!

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-13T23:05:18-06:00

ID

123487

Comment

It was reported that Welch was charged with having an open container. I'm assuming they mean beer. Was the alcohol in his home? I don't see how he could be charged with an open container if it were on his own property.

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2006-09-13T23:45:44-06:00

ID

123488

Comment

My guess is that it was an illegal entry and search, so they just piled on whatever B.S. charge they could come up with. However, you are right, he had better have been out on his front porch or in his yard with that open container. Otherwise, it will be thrown out, as I suspect all of the charges will be.

Author

Darron

Date

2006-09-13T23:53:08-06:00

ID

123489

Comment

Wait...does the open container law apply to private property? If you can't stand in your yard or sit on your porch with a cold beer, there are a lot of people who better be watching for Frank and the sledgehammer crew.

Author

lls32001

Date

2006-09-14T00:27:18-06:00

ID

123490

Comment

I KNOW, pikersam, that we need to focus on the issues at hand, but...damn... this comes from a little more research re: Melton and Bluntson... It was largely ignored in the mid-90's, but I think it should be revisited now!! From archival JFP Melton coverage: "Rumors and Allegations In the interviews, Melton brings up accusations brought against him by former Police Chief Jimmy Wilson of sexual molestation and possibly murder of two young men. Melton first mentioned these allegations to the JFP in March 2005, saying that that are the source of rumors about him in the community. In 1993, after allegations of corruption and rape at the Hinds County Juvenile Detention Center emerged, Wilson appointed investigators to look into the allegations. Soon after, he started urging the FBI to join in the investigation because, he said then, “prominent” people in the community were involved. On Aug. 23, 1993, Wilson wrote a letter to local FBI Agent Joseph J. Jackson, urging him to investigate the allegations. In a five-page report attached to the letter, Wilson detailed the investigation, which among other accusations, discussed then-Detention Center Manager Frank Bluntson’s “administrative violations,” sexual harassment allegations, sexual abuse of minors in the center and a bribery scheme. During the controversy, Bluntson made a deal with then-District Attorney Ed Peters not to be prosecuted if he would resign—and then went to work for Peters as an investigator. Wilson also alleges that young boys “complained they were sexually molested by Melton after they were placed in his custody by youth court judges and Bluntson,” adding, “Melton was not a certified foster parent.” He also said that two of the young men had been killed. Those two young men are Robert Shepherd and Joseph Staffney, both of whom Melton discusses in this interview. Agent Jackson soon resigned and went to work for Melton at WLBT as his No. 2 man. After the report was mailed to media outlets in a plain brown envelope, Melton told The Clarion-Ledger that he would hire the highest-paid lawyer in America to sue anyone who disseminated the allegations. They soon disappeared from local news reports, although Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jim Mulvaney, then of Newsday, investigated the story in 1994, finding no resolution one way or the other." Mama, Mama, Mama, how long has this stuff been going on?! And who, besides Melton, should be prosecuted??

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-14T01:17:59-06:00

ID

123491

Comment

A May 15, 1994, Newsday article, by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jim Mulvaney, has been circulating e-mail boxes. The article, reprinted in the Dallas Morning News but not in a Mississippi paper, details the juvenile-detention saga, and spells out the accusations against Melton. Why didn't this info appear in any Ms. paper other than JFP??

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-14T01:39:30-06:00

ID

123492

Comment

Now it's all clear. Welch can get arrested and then get re-arrested on bulls#$% charges. Melton is "being investigated of wrongdoing" but is allowed to roam the streets freely while his charges are being checked out. WTF? Now what's wrong with this picture? Almost the entire city is crying for someone to do something to Melton, but MELTON said that Welch should be in jail and that's where he is. Talk about being the Ultimate Authority". Melton has thumbed his nose at this city since he first entered it in the late seventies but he can no longer hide his agenda. The sad thing is that there are still some idiots that are trying to defend him. Talk about hypocrisy. How quick some people are to agree with Melton that this was a crack house (with no evidence), but there is proof in the form od witnesses and physical damage to a house and no one wants to see Melton for the "thug" that he really is. If nothing happens from this, we might as well take the locks off of our homes, businesses and vehicles because the law as we currently know it will cease to exist.

Author

lance

Date

2006-09-14T08:11:55-06:00

ID

123493

Comment

You're right on, JAR. In light of Bluntson's actions in upholding Melton's wrongdoing as Mayor, I agree that this story needs to be revived, researched and resolved. Maybe Mulvaney will follow up, now that Melton's antics have made Jackson a national laughing stock!

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-09-14T08:14:30-06:00

ID

123494

Comment

JAR, I can imagine your dismay if you are just now learning of all the under currents in the present administration. Kenneth Stokes, IMHO, has been the single greatest detriment to economic development that Jackson possesses. Much of the 'white flight' can be laid at his door and those who reflect his type of attitude. You cannot reason with unreasonable people. As far as the history of Melton's alledged behavior, many of us have known of this for years. Why the Clarion-Ledger chose to ignore all during the campaign?; I can't answer. I can state with certainty that former mayors of Jackson have all been family men who mostly served with honor. There were definite negative biases toward African-American in past Administrations but during those times, it is doubtful if anyone could have been elected who did not display such racism. Jackson is now the sum of its past behaviors and the sum of its voters wishes. This is the Administration given to us by the most divisive, expensive, and racist campaign ever waged for mayor in our capital city. Some people disliked Harvey Johnson so much they were willing to do anything to oust him. They were wildly successful in their goal but I don't believe they realized how little control they could exercise over their successful candidate, Melton. This is an historic moment in our history. I commend you for your inquiring mind and dogged pursuit of truth. We need those who are willing to invest time and energy in Jackson's future and who will pause and ask questions to become better informed. Keep up the good work, you will be able to influence many in your sphere and others you will never know. Try to stay balanced.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-09-14T08:18:14-06:00

ID

123495

Comment

Hopefully, Welch handlers or lawyers will shut him up now before it's too late. Being in jail until this case is resolved is probably better than his being at home with so much access to so many people. I'm worried he would undue the case if he stays at home. I realize he probably needs to be in a mental health institution or on medication, but jail for right now is likely better than being at home if he can't stop talking. I still doubt he has hurt himself much or at all thus far unless there are other statements we don't know about. The conflicts we know about so far can hopefully be explained away or overlooked.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-14T08:52:10-06:00

ID

123496

Comment

Chris wrote: Jackson is now the sum of its past behaviors and the sum of its voters wishes. Well said. I was just pondering this point, as I was driving down Old Canton this morning. I'm really trying hard to wrap my head around how we got to this place - Melton as Mayor, crime on the rise, random citizens being harassed by those elected and hired 'to protect and to serve.' If our government is a reflection of our collective unconscious, then, boy, are we a screwed up place. Also, I vote for the use of [sarcasm] and [/sarcasm], in lieu of the omnipresent ;-). Those 'emoticons' drive me batty.

Author

kate

Date

2006-09-14T09:38:03-06:00

ID

123497

Comment

This Welch situation needs to be addressed quickly. I bet that he will end up either DOA or DOB (Dead on Arrival or Dead on the Bed). These people in this Melton Gang are old coons who have played very dirty games in this community in the past. Blunson is not worth two dead flies and Tillman who does not have all of the criminal and social pathology comes across as a dumb a$$ who will be led straight to hell by Melton, Stokes and Bluntson. Now to add Charles Evers to the list is just a disaster going somewhere to happen. I became ill last night listening to Charles Evers. He has personally acused Melton of abusing young boys, sexually, in the past. He has spent the past 12 months talking about all of the wrong stuff that Melton was doing. Now, he has become an ally, advisor and confidant. Is this too strange or what? Just to think that Charles Evers would join forces with Frank against those who they perceive as being unable to stand up is sad. It does not matter what color your oppressor is - The pain is the same. So sad because his brother,Medgar Evers, was killed for speaking up against this very type of racial injustice. How soon we forget! I wonder what McMillin thinks of all of this since he is suppose to be conducting an investigation? Ain't nothing WRONG but something ain't RIGHT!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-09-14T11:04:10-06:00

ID

123498

Comment

Sheriff McMillin is not the type that tolerates known illegal or questionable activity by or against inmates. I think Welch will be alright there provide he's constantly monitored. Alt least as far as harm from others.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-14T11:19:23-06:00

ID

123499

Comment

Note the update above; McMillin confirmed the story. McMillin did conduct an investigation, and he announced this morning that he had turned his findings over to DA Faye Peterson. Ray, I do not know what "type" McMillin is, but you seem rather blase about some troubling actions by his department. He would not allow anyone, including the mother, to see Welch while he was in jail. This is, so far as I understand it, illegal. It is certainly fishy. Welch was only released when attorneys got involved. Perhaps McMillin was not informed of his release. Whatever the reason, the sheriff has now confirmed that a flotilla of sheriffs descended on the parents' home to take Welch back into custody. McMillin says this was a mistake. He does not say that they would have arrested Welch again had he been there, and he does not say that the sheriffs only relented when they got another call from Welch's attorney. You explain to me how any of that serves Welch's interests. Why the ridiculous display of force? You explain to me how any of that makes sense.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2006-09-14T12:28:13-06:00

ID

123500

Comment

Melton is being quoted today n WJNT as saying... ..."the issue is simple, I was hired to fight crime and drugs" Melton said. This in response of the Sheriff's press conference. And prior to his 3pm presser he has planned. He's a sick man and so are those that support him if he doesn't resign!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-14T12:33:56-06:00

ID

123501

Comment

Oops... here's the link again!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-14T12:35:11-06:00

ID

123502

Comment

Look who made Yahoo News today: http://news.yahoo.com/local/Memphis/28984

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-09-14T13:08:26-06:00

ID

123503

Comment

Brian, I doubt I'm blase about McMillan's department. Maybe I am though. I don't know whether McMillin has a basis to do what he's doing with Welch or not because I don't know what has transpired in jail this time or in the past with Welch. My comments abot McMillin were made concerning Welch being DOA or DOB, terms I think some one used. I can't see how all that force was necessary either, but I bet McMillan had a reason to re-arrest Welch. I'm not saying McMillan has an opinion as to Welch guilt or innocence either (I don't know whether he does), but I will say McMillan likely was doing what he thinks the law compels him to do with the re-arresting of Welch. There are plenty crazy sheriff who are pawns for the rich and powerful, believe they're above the law, knows more about everything than anyone else, and overreacts frequently. McMillan is not one of those, in my opinion. Perhaps, I'm a little unemotional about the visits by Welch's family because I'm used to seeing clients who can't get visits from anyone but their lawyers for extended periods of time. This frequently happens to capital clients for various reasons. Some good and some unjustified. I hear you saying that Welch isn't a capital client and you're right. My experience has been that the sheriff departments require inmates/jailees to fill out a list of people they want to visit them, then once the list is approved or processed visits will be allowed on certain visitation days. This is what I have been told by jail administrators over and over again. I have being in that jail more times than I can count, and have spent more hours there than I can remember. If Welch can't stop talking until this is over, I rather see him locked up. I'm not against Welch in anyway. It may be hard to see or agree with, but some clients need protecting from themselves.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-14T13:11:08-06:00

ID

123504

Comment

One other thing Brian, I don't know that it is illegal to prevent family members from seeing a defendant in jail until he's processed or has completed jail requirements for a visit from family members. I doubt it is. I have arranged, cajoled, begged, and lied to get family members the chance to see their love ones in jail. The absolute best way to get a visit is through a lawyer. They can't stop us although some fools will occasionally try. I know this puts poor folks at a serious disadvantage.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-14T14:31:53-06:00

ID

123505

Comment

Thanks Ray; I wondered about the rules on visitation. I shouldn't be surprised that they're restrictive. I am still unclear on how inconsistencies (and relatively small ones, from what I've read) could harm him or the case. Regardless, I know that McMillin has a good reputation in this town, but his actions smack of a paternalism that bothers me deeply. So many officials in this town and in this state act as if they are free to bend or break the law, especially if it is in someone's "best" interests, which the person in authority determines unilaterally. As I'm sure you know, this is a cultural echo of slavery, and it downright creeps me out.

Author

Brian Johnson

Date

2006-09-14T16:52:34-06:00

ID

123506

Comment

Brian, I might be overreacting on this. I want Frank to pay for his indiscretions so badly that I just don't want to take any chances. I've seen mentally unstable people and drug addicts get taken advantage of so terribly before trial because they can't avoid talking to the point of hurting themselves. Melton knows he's in big trouble, and I wouldn't be surprised if he or his entourage kept trying to get to Welch in some way, such as with money. I hear Frank has been trying to pay for the house damage, et al. That's not all they will proabably agree to do before this ends. My mind was locked into thinking along the lines of a confession or statement against Welch's interest. Lawyers search hard for ways to destroy credibility, and I don't like to help the opponent. I doubt any damage has been done so far by Welch.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-14T17:15:40-06:00

ID

123507

Comment

Good question. how many major drug busts have taken place in Jackson since Melton took office?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-14T17:58:36-06:00

ID

123508

Comment

Um, I know this is late, but when I mentioned "Keystone Sherriffs" I meant that if I were Sherriff, I would have checked the damn paperwork before sending six deputies for a [sarcasm]oh-so-guilty[/sarcasm] Welch.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-09-14T18:16:32-06:00

ID

123509

Comment

Ray, you're so informative about what goes on behind jailhouse doors. Thanks!! It really concerns me that Evans Welch could be victimized once again by Melton's deep pockets. I've been majorly broke. Not the kind of poverty that Evans is living with, though. I always had family that I could call on if there was a real emergency. But, I can relate to the lure of a pay-off. Hopefully, Dennis Sweet can keep Evans perspective on the right track.

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-14T21:06:22-06:00

ID

123510

Comment

I wonder if the city of Jackson can actually get a conviction?

Author

Code Red

Date

2006-09-15T09:10:56-06:00

ID

123511

Comment

"I KNOW, pikersam, that we need to focus on the issues at hand, but...damn... this comes from a little more research re: Melton and Bluntson... It was largely ignored in the mid-90's, but I think it should be revisited now!! From archival JFP Melton coverage:" I actually had never heard of this until now (and I lived in jackson in this period) but it was clear as day the minute I heard about melton's hug-boys thing and the piece about his stopping school buses on the interstate for hugs that the man was a probable pedophile. Learning he had minor boys living in his home was not a surprise so much as a confirmation. I know there are folks on this site who are essentially apologists for this sort of behavior (or at least were until he found new extra-legal activities), but consider that if we were talking about your NEIGHBOR rather than your mayor, you might view things differently.

Author

Scott Thomas

Date

2006-09-15T19:01:37-06:00

ID

123512

Comment

MY QUESTION IS THIS WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE ON THAT STREET THAT AGREED WITH WHAT MELTON DID? AND THERE ARE SOME. ARE WE SAYING THEY ARE WRONG? ISNT THERE SOME VALIDITY TO THEIR OPINIONS? OR ARE THEY ALL JUST IDIOTS?

Author

trusip

Date

2006-09-15T20:03:31-06:00

ID

123513

Comment

MY QUESTION IS is there any chance you could turn off the Caps Lock key so we can read what you're saying? Type in all lower case if you have to. But, as for your question...yes, people on the street who think Melton should do illegal things to fight crime...are wrong.

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2006-09-15T20:06:23-06:00

ID

123514

Comment

(*caps off)that wasnt my question. are the folks who support Melton on that very street, who have applauded his actions, wrong. just because they disagree with you? they are residents there and they have had to live with that. why must they be "wrong"?

Author

trusip

Date

2006-09-15T20:18:06-06:00

ID

123515

Comment

Yes, they are wrong if they support illegal activity by the mayor or anyone else. It has nothing to do with disagreeing with anybody. It has to do with the rule of law. And you've given no indication of how his activities are going to change anything for them. Not that it would matter—he still can't commit crimes to try to fight crime. It's, uh, illegal. But if he could offer any evidence whatsoever that his illegal activities have helped anyone, at least there would be an argument. But crime has skyrocketed on his watch. If anything, his tactics have probably increased crime because so many police officers have to follow him around, cleaning up his messes. That's a waste of taxpayer resources, and it doesn't help any of our citizens.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-15T20:21:30-06:00

ID

123516

Comment

(*caps off)that wasnt my question. are the folks who support Melton on that very street, who have applauded his actions, wrong. just because they disagree with you? they are residents there and they have had to live with that. why must they be "wrong"? Thanks for the lower case. :-) One, whether or not they agree with me doesn't have anything to do with it. What's at issue is whether the facts agree with "them." A man in authority cannot abuse that authority in the way that Melton is alleged to have done. Commiting crimes -- and property crimes, to boot -- to fight crime is wrong. Beyond that, the whole line of questioning begs the question as to whether or not Melton is actually fighting crime with these tactics -- particularly this latest round. It's very difficult to see how committing property crimes = *fighting* crime. And I'd have to say that while it's criminals who "increase crime" -- there is certainly a sense in this town that the JPD is less than fully organized and managed from the top down...not to mention the possibility that we don't have enough cops on the streets, community policing efforts, data about crime and sophistication about the problems that lead to increased criminality. What we need is smart leadership and serious solutions, not a dress-up superhero.

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2006-09-15T20:56:15-06:00

ID

123517

Comment

"are the folks who support Melton on that very street, who have applauded his actions, wrong. just because they disagree with you? they are residents there and they have had to live with that. why must they be "wrong"?" if you are going to live in a world with any pretense of american legal and social values, then yes they are wrong. If you want moral ambiguity, then you can probably justify just about anything, including this. this was private property, apparently no drugs of consequence were found on site, they trashed the place, held the resident incommunicado for days, went on to trash a night club, etc. You don't have a politician running the Bold New City, you have a thug with an ego a mile wide and a millimeter thin.

Author

Scott Thomas

Date

2006-09-15T23:46:10-06:00

ID

123518

Comment

I just found this on the tape of Sheriff McMillin's press conference about the indictments Friday. Brent Cox of the ACLU asked him why his deputies had gone out to re-arrest Welch. This was his response: “That was a mistake. There are no warrants (for Welch). He was a free man. No one is looking for him. … Somebody got the paperwork mixed up. Instead of it being in this pile, it was in another pile. Consequently, he was released, and it wasn’t until after then we found he was released because he was ill, and we had no space for him at the jail, while we would have at the penal farm, but we don’t keep people at the penal farm that can’t work.”

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-19T17:16:35-06:00