Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton made hard allegations (PDF, 464 KB) against plaintiffs suing him and the city for civil rights violations this morning, from Albert "Batman" Donelson to Charlotte Reeves. "I'm not trying to taint the jury," Melton insisted. "These are things that I want to come up in a civil trial. We have a lot more latitude in civil court, and these are not allegations. These are facts, and I'm prepared to go forward."

Melton dished out allegations against Jackson resident Albert Donelson, who was acquitted for murder by a Hinds County jury after Melton investigated Donelson as head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Donelson's mother Tara Donelson is suing Melton for trespassing and threatening her family after Melton, armed with a shotgun and backed by Jackson police, taunted Donelson's family on her front porch in April 2006, claiming he had heard family members issue threats against the mayor.

"It is my opinion, based on fact, that Donelson has been a major distributor of narcotics in the city of Jackson for a number of years. He is responsible for the homicide of six people," Melton said.

Melton also attacked the reputation of Jackson business The Upper Level Bar & Grill, which he claims is a major distribution point for drugs.

"It is a haven for the consumption and distribution of narcotics, without question," Melton said. "…We can tell you that as a matter of fact. We've had undercover people there."

Owners of the Upper Level Bar & Grill are suing the city and Melton, claiming the mayor and his entourage kicked and beat club manager Tonarri Moore in August 2006 while he was handcuffed. Moore said police handcuffed him for photographing police patrolling the interior of the club, in violation of a city agreement with the business.

Melton then targeted pallet recycling company A-1 Pallet, on 1000 N. Mill St.

"It is infested with rats and rodents, and the facility is just across the street from where a dozen kids live…and it has been reported to me that the facility is used to fence stolen goods," Melton said.

Owners claim the city is singling their company out for persecution and filed an August restraining order against the city in Hinds County Chancery Court to protect the business from what company owner Charlotte Reeves called arbitrary demolition. Melton admitted that the only thing keeping the city from demolishing the mill is the restraining order.

"With the Pallet company, they went and got an injunction prohibiting the city from demolishing the structure," Melton answered when asked why the business remains intact if it poses such a problem for the city. "I feel that is absolutely wrong … If it were in (the judge's) neighborhood, he would not allow it to be there."

Reeves warned that Melton is disparaging her company without evidence.

"If he has some kind of proof of us fencing stolen things he needs to come forward with it," Reeves told the JFP. "I'm just furious that he can continue to say these things and get away with it."

Melton said the city's inability to get rid of the pallet company and the Upper Level Club was one of the reasons the city replaced former chief Shirlene Anderson with potential Chief Malcolm McMillin last month.

"The Upper Level is still open, and that's exactly why we have a new police chief," Melton told reporters.

McMillin said he had yet to look into either the Upper Level or A-1 Pallet company as police chief.

Melton held the press conference after The Clarion-Ledger published a letter from Phelps Dunbar law firm admitting the firm would likely be unable to successfully defend Melton in the Donelson lawsuit and in a second lawsuit regarding Melton's illegal demolition of a home on Ridgeway Street in 2006. Property owner Jennifer Sutton is suing Melton and the city for $38,000 in repairs over that incident. A grand jury indicted Melton and his two bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright on five felony counts related to that incident. A Hinds County Circuit Court jury found all three innocent on every count, though none of the three denied overseeing the destruction of the home.

Previous Commentsshow

Oh no, and I thought he could keep his mouth closed for a little while. Chief Anderson is not gone because she could not close down the Upper Level or any other business, if I understand him correctly he has the problem with them not her or the city. Melton stands to gain something personally by shutting these people up, that is all its about. The sad part is the City has to pay attorney fees for his ignorance.

classy

Dec 5 2007

A law suite? Is that in a building?

LawClerk

Dec 5 2007

now in my legal and ethical classes at JSU (what up Dr. Lewis) I was told that accusations against public figures where not as difficult to prove when it came to libel or slander. Now that ya'll mayor is making these strong statements to the media does this mean that any of the above parties could sue him and/or the city for slander. Is this at all possible now that he is making these types of comments Ray???? http://www.dancingwithlawyers.com/freeinfo/libel.shtml skipp for mayor 2009 "at least he ain't frank"

skipp

Dec 5 2007

If I were Charlotte Reeves, I'd sue the hell out of Frank. If he thought there were stolen goods on the property, why didn't he get the police involved? I also think it's a cop-out that he's accusing Shirlene Anderson for her not being able to close the Upper Level and A1 Pallets. Talk about throwing somebody under a bus. If he thought that was a problem, he should've gotten rid of her over the summer.

golden eagle

Dec 5 2007

A law suite? Is that in a building? You'd also think he could spell Albert Donelson's name by now as well. And I think it's Sharrod Moore, but I could be wrong. Public officials don't always know how to write, but that thing is embarrassing. And I sure hope he has evidence to back up those accusations, or his life just got more interesting.

DonnaLadd

Dec 5 2007

I'm disturbed that the city is footing the bill for outside counsel. From what I have understood, Sarah O'Reilly Evans seems to have said consistantly (or implied so) that the city attorney acts on behalf of the mayor or he should pay for his own. This is why she represents the mayor/administration when there is a mayor/council issue.

katbird

Dec 5 2007

I don't know what to say, katbird. We tried in every way possible to tell voters that Melton was going to bring scads of lawsuits to the city and the taxpayers would likely end up paying for his, er, tactics. This was breathtakingly obvious from his history, although other media wouldn't put the information out there. This press release about says it all about who the city elected. But this evidence was out there long before the election. It's too bad the media didn't think people could handle the truth about their self-created folk hero.

DonnaLadd

Dec 5 2007

"Now that ya'll mayor is making these strong statements to the media does this mean that any of the above parties could sue him and/or the city for slander. " Haha... Too bad I wasn't named, and I could've demonstrated it.

LawClerk

Dec 5 2007

It's my understanding that it's more difficult for a celebrity or public figure to prove slander and libel than a private citizen. They have fewer rights to privacy or less expectation of privacy or something like that. I've been out of school to long to remember the law. When are people going to leave the mayor alone and let him finish doing the fine job he started over two years ago? Frank ain't scared of no FBI or other law enforcement agency. Hasn't he beat them all already. After all, he told the world, while standing on Donelson front porch, "here I am right here?"

Ray Carter

Dec 6 2007

The med's are wearing off, or he is emboldened by the rumored deal he made with the Feds.

pikersam

Dec 6 2007

He couldn't stand being out of the spotlight and the center of attention following the McMillian announcement.

Jeff Lucas

Dec 6 2007

The CL is full of melton crap this am. I have one position: melton does not have the money nor does the City of Jackson to litigate this unwinnable case; therefore, both the City of Jackson and melton should be given a court appointed attorney. We have paid enough and have heard enough from Phelps/Dunbar and Banks and his client/attorney privilege. If melton knows about drug deals and drug dealing, why didn't he arrest these folks when he was MBN director? The is protesting "too much." Ain't NOTHING wrong; but, SOMETHING ain't right

justjess

Dec 6 2007

Does anyone know the function of SORE and other members of the legal department for the City? What are they being paid for? Just thinking.

justjess

Dec 6 2007

To defend the city against claims and lawsuits, and to avoid conflicts and malpractice of representing the city and frank jointly who they know is loose as a goose, crazy as a fox with a brain disease and as looney as a horsefly.

Ray Carter

Dec 6 2007

Where is the EVIDENCE, mr. melton???????

justjess

Dec 6 2007

Thanks Ray. Now, I move that the City of Jackson, in its present spirit of consolidation of services, merge the City's Legal Department with The Law Firm of Bugs Bunny & Co.

justjess

Dec 6 2007

that is the acme corp. maam...

skipp

Dec 6 2007

Question: how can I be out of my scope of authority when this has taken place in this city? This statement at the end of Melton's press release reminds me of his statement during the state of emergency that he had authority over National Guard units if they were within city limits. It also reminds me of Nixon's statement that an act can't be illegal if the president says it is legal.

Brian C Johnson

Dec 6 2007

Oh wow.. this is too funny: "I"m going to beat his little butt "after a press release had gone out Tuesday announcing that he'd be in the lead car with his sister. "I assure you," said Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, who is a friend of the Norwood family, "he will be with me -- not in the Grand Marshal car with Brandy." "As for Ray-J, he might want to skip the trip home altogether. Mayor Melton isn't terribly happy with Ray, whose family is from nearby Macomb: "I'm going to beat his little butt when he gets to Jackson ... He knows better than that."

LawClerk

Dec 7 2007

Brandy and Ray J are my cousins. Their dad and my mother are the children of a brother and sister. Melton can't beat anybody who shares my blood line. And that really is the bottom line.

Ray Carter

Dec 7 2007

after reading this press release, i guess i know somebody who's NOT smarter than a fifth grader! lol

eyerah

Dec 7 2007

So Brandy's brother, Ray can't ride with her in the parade because he has committed a Cardinal sin but frank can put all of his felonous robbers, killers, thrillers, and chillers up front and in person at news conferences and worst of all, some are on our City of Jackson payroll. frank is outing everybody this week. The information about Brandy's brother wasn't necessary: All the man had to do was invite Brandy to be the Grand Marshall. I personally think that she should decline the invitation. frank is just looking for any type of publicity he can find. BONG! I just had an after thought. Since frank know about the "sex tape," why did he even ask Ray-J to participate. Did he snatch the invatation after media exposed Ray-J's business plan. Ray Carter, I love to hear Brandy. She has a golden voice. She is quite a smart a savvy actress. I bought the tape of Cinderella. She was outstanding! Why were Danks and frank flanking the FBI on yesterday? I caught the end of it on 16.

justjess

Dec 7 2007

Frank is a very particular person. He's against things that just might get you sweaty, tired, worned out and in need of a nap. This way you become an unproductive citizen of Jackson. Jackson needs action not tired and sleepy people that are unproductive to Jackson. Criminals don't sleep much. In their view, there is too much work to be done.

Ray Carter

Dec 7 2007