Jackson Free Press

Last Sunday, the Jackson Free Press broke news that Mayor Frank Melton was out long after bed-time, leading a platoon of about 20 police officers on a raid on the club.

Melton accompanied his police bodyguards and a fire marshal as they entered the business, declared it a fire hazard and shut it down without administering any actual tickets for safety violations.

Now, Upper Level Club attorney Chokwe Lumumba and Sharon Gipson have provided to the Jackson Free Press video from the club's security cameras (AVI Video, 1.75 MB) confirming that the mayor was indeed at the club, and sporting a badge, though Attorney General Jim Hood has already warned the mayor to stop impersonating a police officer.

The mayor is still under bond and probation terms, and has a midnight to 6 a.m. curfew, but witnesses claim the mayor was at the club well after midnight.

Lumumba says Melton had promised neighboring businesses that he would target the Upper Level during his campaign and says it looks like Melton stuck to his word.

Previous Commentsshow

LOL! What a wimp! He talks this big game about how "he" is going to shut you down or run you off. Then he has to bring a whole bunch of cops with him flanking him in front and in back. The dude is such a wimp he can't even lead his men into the fray! On top of that he has to wear his play badge as if that makes him all that much more of an enforcer of the law! LOL!

pikersam

Feb 14 2007

Couldn't get video to load. :-( I hope that Judge Green will put him in jail ,if only for one night.

Fitz

Feb 15 2007

Two questions: (1) If MS law states that the mayor can not hold office if he is "even" convicted of a mistameanor, then why is he still in office? (2) If he has broken the terms of his probation by being out past midnight with unauthorized visits to the homes of a parent with children under the age of 17 and with his two body-guards," who is allowing him to continue these unlawful acts (for a mayor who is on probation)? Fitz, don't hold your breath waiting for JG to arrest melton. There is a saying that goes: YOU CAN'T GIVE UP THE CHICKEN IF YOU NEED THE EGGS. What a MESS!!!!!!!!!

justjess

Feb 15 2007

I think Judge Green is getting a bum wrap, personally. Heck, even the Supreme Court can't decide what's right and politics is all over the Supreme Court in terms of Hinds County courts - as we have all read. In fact, I posted this on another thread and hope Donna and all can really find out what happened... The Clarion Ledger printed a report on December 16th that the Supreme Court sided with Judge Green on the whole "crack house" issue...then it is reported on February 9th that the Supreme Court rules in favor of the City and rejects Judge Green's ruling. Okay, so what was wrong with the first opinion in December? Who asked that the December opinion be reversed? Who asked that three more justices review the City's appeal? Can the JFP get a copy of both orders and print them both or provide links to both so we can all look and see who said what and what was different from both orders. Something just doesn't smell right with this...

JenniferGriffin

Feb 15 2007

To anyone having trouble with the video file, we're working on converting it to a codec that is friendlier to the average netizen, or at least posting stills. In the meantime, PC users might try loading the file in Windows Media Classic. Windows Media Player has weird licensing requirements for codecs, which means that many, many files will not play through it. Windows Media Classic does not look as pretty, but it will play just about anything. There is a lesson in this for us all.

Brian C Johnson

Feb 15 2007

Well, just in. A Jackson Police Officer was a victim of armed robbery at Walmart on Hwy. 18 this afternoon. the thief took her purse with her weapon in it. where's frank and the whole host of officers when you need them?

notme

Feb 15 2007

Notme, the cops are resting for the weekend shindig at the upper level. :)

LawClerk

Feb 15 2007

BTW, a raise for the officers isn't going to solve the problem of not having enough of them. Doesn't Jackson have a reserve unit? Perhaps we could get more reserve officers, since they are not paid, we could get an increase in officers for no outlay of capital. Or maybe we could just police ourselves... yeah right. lc

LawClerk

Feb 15 2007

Have you ever wonderer LawClerk, does the total figure of Sworn Officers they are giving us currently include the reserves? If Harvey left them with 498 to 500 officers and they are currently reporting around 450 (the budgeted number) and they are having trouble recruiting, and they have not had very many classes (maybe no more than one) at the Academy, and the Chief is complaining that the grads are being recruited at a rapid pace, then how are they holding at around 450? Oh, I forgot, also they have 'weeded out the corrupt ones', which also resulted in a decrease. Then add the retirements....... Makes me wonder.

ChrisCavanaugh

Feb 15 2007

Chris, From what Shirlene Anderson said Monday, the number is closer to 400 these days. Jess, After exhaustive review of the law with the help of various legal experts, I don't think the mayor can be removed for misdemeanor convictions unless it was done through the constitutional provision. In other words, the mayor is only automatically removed if he is convicted of a felony. I can't answer your second question. JPFReader, Unfortunately, the Supreme Court is completely opaque on this matter. My understanding is that it was a three-person review that let the order stand in December. I believe they ruled then on the city's request for emergency relief. The more recent decision came from the full court. Unfortunately, the court did not say one single thing about why they came to the decision they did. Honestly, the only reason why I haven't posted the recent decision is that it is two paragraphs and says absolutely nothing that provides any insight into what the court's thinking was whatsoever.

Brian C Johnson

Feb 15 2007

Y'all can't have it every-which-away. You either leave the maya alone and let him clean up Jackson and stop crime as he promised and was succeeding at, or you silence and paralyze him with trumped up charges and let the city go to hell in a handbasket. The maya knew what he was doing and was way on his way to stopping crime before the criminals had him stopped. People, you can't take the maya's badge, mobile command center, Metro One Copter, then place him on probation restricting his police work and yet get the same results you got earlier. Duh!

Ray Carter

Feb 15 2007

Frank is supposedly suing WAPT over the Upper Level scenario. I'll post more later when I get better details.

golden eagle '97

Feb 15 2007

I'll step up and go for the reserve officer scenario. Let me know what I need to do. I would like to wear Frank's badge. Does anyone know how to go about doing this? Or if Jackson even has this? lc

LawClerk

Feb 15 2007

LawClerk writes: BTW, a raise for the officers isn't going to solve the problem of not having enough of them. I'm not sure I agree. The more money there is, the more competitive the position becomes. We can get more officers to move here from the suburbs, even from outside the Jackson/metro area, if we raise officer salaries. I don't like the specific way Melton wants to raise the funds, but increased pay for police officers is something I've supported for as long as I can remember, regardless of the administration. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Feb 15 2007

Tom, I support higher pay for everyone... if they warrant higher pay. An across the board raise, or higher pay strictly for higher pay, does absolutely nothing but drive inflation up. There is a reason that Jackson doesn't have enough officers, and it isn't strictly a salary reason. If money was the reason, why do people join the military? Or, why does Jackson have any officers? And if we did pay the officers 35k instead of 29 or whatever they make now.... wouldn't that mean that we would have less officers because we have a fixed money supply? I know we could always increase cigarette taxes because smokers should pay more! Or maybe we could tax alcohol more. Why not! I think we should also taxing bibles. Maybe a per word blog tax? A spinning rim tax! Ugh... i just get so sick and tired of politics and budgets and spending and taxes. Maybe we should just all get deputized and issued Glocks and badges so we can run around and be our own police force.

LawClerk

Feb 15 2007

WAPT is reporting that now Melton is apologizing for the Upper Level raid:' Sunday morning and said he's taking a break from future raids. But Melton said it has nothing to do with a possible probation violation. "I'm not going to back up, but I'm going to have to modify the way I do it a little bit," he said. Melton is being investigated for possibly violating his probation curfew. 16 WAPT obtained exclusive surveillance video of the mayor going in the club at 1:30 Sunday morning. His probation officer, Dennis Grant, told 16 WAPT he did not agree to let Melton go out after midnight -- a claim Melton disputes. (Not to quibble with our friends at WAPT, how was that video "exclusive" if we had it on our Web site yesterday?!? They've done a great job on this story since we broke it Sunday, but there is no need to overreach here.)

DonnaLadd

Feb 16 2007

And now I hear Melton is suing WAPT. How interesting. Did anyone else see that?/

jada

Feb 16 2007

Suing them for what?!

DonnaLadd

Feb 16 2007

I didn't get all of the announcement that is why I asked the other bloggers so I could get thewhole story.

jada

Feb 16 2007

Seems Mr. Melton cried "sue" to the Clarion Ledger, Ditto, and Wilson back when they ran with allegations of him and those boys - who died in unrelated "gang shootings" shorty after Melton hired the FBI agent investigating him to work at WLBT.

pikersam

Feb 16 2007

I believe he's suing WAPT for... well, the story goes he's tried to tell them the truth (his words) that he had permission to be out late. This despite all the evidence to the contrary. Methinks whomever is in charge of his probation will be disappeared or have had a sudden change of heart prior to the trial on this one. The story is over on wjtv, if you can get their site to work. It won't bring up the story, just those stupid ads.

Ironghost

Feb 16 2007

"I'm not your regular kind of mayor."

Cliff Cargill

Feb 16 2007

Interesting enough, WAPT never reported about them being sued. Maybe it's because they're the subject of the suit and are not making coments on it. It was WJTV where I heard the story.

golden eagle '97

Feb 16 2007

Stuart Kellog, WAPT, Channel 16, said something this morning about it being too important a story for them to stop reporting about it. Maybe its on their website. Try "Ask the Manager" or something like that.

ChrisCavanaugh

Feb 16 2007

Head's Rule of Effective Political Campaigning, Rule #17: When you've done something embarrassing and don't want public attention on it, the best way to make sure it blows over is file quixotic lawsuits against media outlets for reporting it. This will both improve your relationship with the press, and reduce the lifetime of the story. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Feb 16 2007

Head's Rule of Effective Political Campaigning, Rule #18: Be sure to only show these rules to Republicans, Democrats who think they're Republicans, and inconvenient third-party candidates. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Feb 16 2007

Word on the "suit" is that Melton told WJTV he was suing WAPT because they reported he violated his probation. Even by his own admission, he did that--calling his agent up on Saturday afternoon hardly constitutes 48 hours notice. Anyway, Melton has threatened to sue the JFP several times for reporting truths he found to be inconvenient. He has twice said that we would be out of business within six months, once about a year and a half ago, and then again about nine months ago. I'm sure folks at WAPT are just shaking in their boots.

Brian C Johnson

Feb 16 2007

My sources are telling me that Frank also has the Tooth Fairy and Santa CLaus on his list to sue.

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

Here's a verbatim press release from the Mississippi ACLU: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information, contact: Nsombi Lambright, 601-573-3978 or Brent Cox 601-354-3408 February 15, 2007 ACLU Continues To Call For Accountability In The Jackson City Government The ACLU is urging Judge Tommie Green to hold a revocation hearing to review the possible probation violations of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. Mayor Melton seemingly continues to violate the terms of his probation and is not being held accountable by the judicial system. The Hinds County Justice system should not set different standards for elected officials who violate the law. There are hundreds of ordinary citizens in Mississippi jails due to probation/parole violations, who do not get a second chance. To establish different standards because of status is not fair and contrary to the principle that no one is above the law. Mayor Melton should be held accountable. This on-going acceptance of Mayor Melton’s disregard for the law sets a terrible example for young people and adults who have been in trouble with the law. One of the purposes of probation and parole is to deter persons who have committed offenses from engaging in the behavior that led them to commit the offense in the first place. Yet, Mayor Melton continues to engage in the same tactics that led to his arrest and ultimately, his conviction on gun charges. The ACLU is urging Judge Green to treat Mayor Melton like any other citizen by holding a revocation hearing to assess his probation violations. We’re also urging Chief Shirlene Anderson to assert control of the Jackson Police Department by prohibiting civilian engagement in dangerous police work. Mayor Melton should let the Jackson Police Department handle law enforcement work. If JPD doesn’t have the tools, skills or resources to do their jobs effectively, the citizens of Jackson should know about it so that we can advocate for better pay and more training.

Brian C Johnson

Feb 16 2007

Brian, Thanks for your note on the Supreme Court thing. But here's my other thought...I tried looking for the December ruling on the Supreme Court website and can't find it. Even if it was a three judge panel in December..shouldn't there be some evidence of their ruling. To be honest, and the lawyers on this site can help me out, this is truly a precendent. Not only did someone call a 3-judge panel back for full review, they took off the original ruling for the public to see, and I don't see any mention in the February ruling that it was called back for review. Can the lawyers out there advise on other types of rulings where this has happened?

JenniferGriffin

Feb 16 2007

This is at least the 600th reason why Nsombi Lambright kicks butt. I adore that woman. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Feb 16 2007

I'm not an appelate lawyer or appellate expert and glad of it. However, the Supreme court sits in panels of 3 justices with the chief presiding over A, with senior presiding judge over B and the junior presiding judge over C. In the event they differ as to any judgment within any panel or in the event any justice thinks the decision made or about to be made conflicts with prior decisions of the full court or of any panel, or the cause is so important that it requires the attention of the full court, the full court will hear and render a decision. One of these must have happed.

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

Furthermore, the Supreme court MAY (not shall) write opinion and publish all cases heard by them. They generally write opinions and publish opinions where cases affirmed and damages assessed for frivolous appeals and in other cases where a majority of the justices decide a case will add to the value of jurisprudence of the State or be useful to the parties or the trial court.

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

But they also MAY (if I'm reading you right) not say a damn thing, i.e. not write an opinion at all. Put a quarter into the machine and your decision comes out, but don't ask any quesitons!

Brian C Johnson

Feb 16 2007

That's right! This pisses off lawyers too, not just non-lawyers. Here I suspect they feel or think there is already law or guidance to base the decision on. Or maybe they don't want to give any reasons for anyone to discuss or challenge. Who knows?

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

"This is at least the 600th reason why Nsombi Lambright kicks butt. I adore that woman." Tom, it is a Tougaloo thing:-)!!!!!!!! I agree with you...it is about being accountable for you actions...no matter your position in life!

Big Tee

Feb 16 2007

I vote for the Tougaloo thing, but I've been trying to stop bragging.

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

Thanks, Ray for the heads up on all this. I still think that the Supreme Court should be as transparent as any other entity and if they published a hand bill in December 2006 agreeing with the lower courts decision, then turn around and change that in 2007...the original should not be missing from the files. Or is this a case of "open records" that I'm missing or somehow doesn't apply to our state's highest court? There had to be some opinion given in December 2006 for anyone to write a story about...why did that disappear?

JenniferGriffin

Feb 16 2007

OK folks, the s@#t has hit the fan!! My grands are students at Mother Goose Christian" School. This is the school featured in last night's story on WAPT - 16 News where melton was surrounded by a group of youngsters who "made him a valentine/Get Well Card with all of the "we love you and we miss you." It was the popular rhetoric you hear from melton supporters. It was difficult keeping my composure as I was accused of not being a Christian and not doing like Christ "intended us to do." No disrespect to anyone and their religion but, I get so sick and tired of these church a2ses pulling that crap when they know that they have gone too far and that they are caught red handed. I contacted WAPT and left a message on a recorder. I charged them with being a part of the problem since no one announced that melton's visit to the school had been cleared and that he was being supervised by ___________. frank melton makes a special point to let this community know that he will do what he wants, when he wants and with whom he wants. Just remember that he is cutting back on his crime fighting - not because of what the legal system says: He is doing it "because of health reasons." Many of the young parents were afraid to approach the owner for fear that their children would experience reprisals or that they would be asked to leave the school. I can't believe that so many had no better reasoning or a stronger sense of security as it relates to options. This is a private school and the parents control the purse string. There were young mothers and fathers who are as upset as I am. The conversation ended when the owner's assistant said that she would call down to "CITY HALL and see if Mayor Melton had premission to visit the children in the school." So, I've decided to visit Judge Green, The DA. , The AG., The ACLU, The NAACP, The Malcolm X Grass Roots, MR. Robert Johnson and the Probation Officer, Rev. Dennis, to see if parents and grandparents have a leg to stand on in trying to keep this convicted mayor who is on probation and who has been told to stay out of the company of youngsters under the age of 17, follow the directives given. ....and by the way, there were about nine officers flanking him and it should have been around the time that the officer at Walmart was being robbed.

justjess

Feb 16 2007

JFPReader try calling the Supreme Court Clerk, Betty Sephton, at 601-359-3697 to see if she would tell you how to get this, if it still exist. She's often very helpful.

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

Being that this is a private school rules my apply? But, I do think Danks cleared Melton to "visit" schools since that is part of his job? However, if this is a private school, and if they didn't alert the parents he would be visiting, that is bad management. I find it even more appalling that he would bring all those officers with him to the school. Children in America do not need a "police state" image from its leaders. Tacky.

pikersam

Feb 16 2007

When things go wrong Frank seeks love from children. They're loving and non-judgmental. I just wonder why it's always somebody else's children? BB King says in one song, "Nobody loves me but my momma and she could be lying, too." Would y'all join me in the Give the Maya Some Love Coalition?

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

As to the current state of the Supreme Court orders on the "gag order": The City filed a Motion for Reconsideration was filed. The purpose of a Motion for Reconsideration is to ask the court to reconsider its earlier decision in light of some case or argument that the moving party thinks the court ignored. On Feb. 8, 2007, the MS Sup Ct (all 9 justices), in the case styled City of Jackson vs. Jennifer Sutton, granted the City's Motion for Reconsideration. This reversed the earlier decision and rendered it moot. Would a written opinion been helpful? Sure -- it always is. But the information on the motion is available, so this isn't a hiding of documents situation. A trip to the courthouse would get you a copy of both the original order and the order granting the Motion to Reconsider (as well as the Motion itself, which would provide you with the arguments presented).

Newt

Feb 16 2007

Ray: insurance man better take out some insurance on himself.

Kingfish

Feb 16 2007

I have plenty.

Ray Carter

Feb 16 2007

Thanks Ray and Newt! I'll try to find the December order. But I still am not convinced this was just a simple matter of reconsideration versus politics, especially given the recent reports of matters of work load, etc. from the Supreme Court Chief and Hinds County Judges.

JenniferGriffin

Feb 16 2007

Brian, Regarding our earlier posts about number of JPD Officers, I believe the C-L quoted Tyrone Lewis on Sept. 17th, 2006 (plus/minus a day) as total number of officers being 455. If we are now at appx. 400, then we are not graduating any and not hiring any. Attrition does not usually mean more than 4 or 5 Officers/month and these should be replaced by graduates at the Academy. To me this means in 19 and one-half months we have a net lost of approximately 100 Officers making this fact alone a seriously dangerous situation. Couple this critical lack of personnel with an esculating crime rate and it spells disaster. The Harvey-bashers can't continue to stand on 'cooked/crooked statistics', which I believe to be mainly untrue. In the pre-Moore days we had around 400 Officers. This number barely allows answering 911 calls and covering traffic mishaps. It does not allow for much investigation and prevention. Perhaps we need a thread regarding JPD.

ChrisCavanaugh

Feb 17 2007