BREAKING: Melton, Kids Accused of Destroying Private Home

OMG! This is messed up! Do you have more pictures you can post?

And certain politicans want us to support him, and his unorthodox means, so we can rid the city of crime? Who do you represent? What do you represent? You don't represent me and I too think crime is a problem!

I just heard about this on the Kim Wade Show (who gave the JFP credit for the story, BTW). This is scary stuff! When I add this to the Upper Level incident, the "kids" who regularly accompany Melton on the MCU and live with him doing God knows what, and the rumor mill on the street, it is a very depressing picture for the Bold New City.

When I heard city officials praising Melton last night for his vigilantism, I was shaking my head with disbelief. These tactics are inevitably going to cost the City thousands of dollars that we badly need for education, road repairs and better training for police. Thousands of dollars the City is going to have to pay because the mayor, who is not a police officer, wants to play vigilante and terrorize the people Jackson.

Melton has cast himself from a very old Southern mold--that of men such as Bull Connor who believe might makes right so long as it's used in the name of 'Justice'. Constitutional rights be damned.

Brent, I'm beginning to suspect that Melton honestly wants the city to go bankrupt. Remember that he turned down $250,000 in free money from UMC to fund expenses for a fire department that now faces a budget shortfall, and fired a lobbying firm that had brought in more than $110 million in federal grants so that he could spend more money than that hiring one inexperienced friend who will have to be shuttled back and forth from Washington. Meanwhile, he goes out of his way to do things that will get the city sued--in a manner that often has absolutely no crimefighting value, and in fact encourages lawlessness.

I hope to God he's successfully indicted on a felony count and leaves the mayor's office sooner rather than later. If he'd been successful in his jihad against Faye Peterson, we'd be looking at a new, probably more Melton-friendly D.A. But unlike Jim Hood, who has so far shown himself to be a cowardly and pathetic excuse for an attorney general, I don't think Peterson will hesitate to nail Melton's butt to the wall.

This could be it, folks.


Cheers,

TH

Is this totally a violation of civil rights? Of the constitution? Unreasonable search and seizure? To me it is a new shade of the KKK. The only hope the Administration has to pull through this by the hair of their chin is possibly some type of extended in-patient treatment.

BTW: The man is probably Evans Welch, DOB 11-28-1960

For any who still wonders why there are rumors of Melton being the head of a massive drug distribution network in the metro area...it is because this is the type of thing drug dealers do when they think some one has moved into there space

Updated. Note new comments from Welch's mother at the end.

Also, I assume that all know this incident allegedly occurred earlier the evening that witnesses say that the Upper Level manager was beaten while in handcuffs by young men riding on the Mobile Command Center.

Here's that story just in case.

what do you say? Some things just speak for themselves. Probably one thing that me, Ladd, Kate, Tim, Tom, Brian et al will completely agree on.

WLBT is doing the story tonight @ ten PM....with reaction from Melton.

This poor disabled man. Where is he? I am truly horrified and nauseated. Please keep us updated.

Did the man missing last month from the motel ever reappear?

You mean our media in Jackson is actually going to cover this?

For this we get ONE TV station to cover it?

Wonder if CL and other TV stations will cover it?

*sigh*

...and to think people of Jackson think he's actually doing good. They don't know better, and obviously just love watching him misbehave until he comes for them.

How can any good JPD officer (assuming they exist) stand by and watch this man trash the city?

trust me, everyone in town will do this story tomorrow.

Well, they'd better not plagiarize Adam and not say where they got the story from. This one will be a good test of the ethics of our local media. Will they, or won't they?

Story on Wlbt says Minne Rhodes owns the property???is the new owner to be Jennifer Sutton?

I just saw that, too. We'll get back to y'all on the discrepancy asap.

No, they didn't say where they got this story. And this was a major effort by Adam Lynch. Schmucks.

Otherwise, not a bad story. Didn't make Melton look good. Houston, we've got a problem.

Also, re the next story, could someone please tell WLBT that there is NOT "charge" of "home invasion" to be charged with?!?

They didn't get the story from the JFP. Folks call WLBT too!

that's the price you pay i guess... It wasn't like they stole all your quotes and just reread them without credit...I really did look like they spent some time on the ground...to tell you the truth i don't know many stories I read that are properly credited i guess.

i looked up the tax roll for owners and it it shows jennifer sutton...It did look like Minnie went to get her hair done before the interview thou:)!

http://www.co.hinds.ms.us/pgs/apps/landroll_detail.asp?ID=421-330

Just talked to Adam about the owner thing. He's confused by this, and will confirm it tomorrow. He got Ms. Sutton's names from the county property rolls, and then interviewed her. She said she was the owner and has been for three years. We'll figure this out tomorrow and update y'all.

(UPDATE: The JFP report is correct; Sutton is the owner.)

I know people call WLBT, too. Some of the people interviewed said they had tried to interest TV in the story earlier in the week, and no one came out, or had been out before Adam did his reporting. Then we post ours today before 5 p.m., and they get it on the 10 o'clock news. It seems very clear that they ran over early evening after seeing it. It's truly bad form not to give credit where it's due. We do it all the time. They've done better by us in the past, but I guess they couldn't resist trying to own this one themselves. That's too bad.

Here's a prediction: When they get around to this story, The Clarion-Ledger will credit WLBT. ;-)

Donna-

Trust me. WLBT did not get the story from the JFP. Ask Frank what time he was interviewed? Ask Minnie Rhodes what time she was interviewed? Call Tyronne Lewis and ask him.

This is trivial. Lets talk about the issues at hand.

Hey, I'm all about talking about both -- the mess with Mr. Melton, which if you hadn't noticed, I have been talking about for more than a year and a half now. But I also will continue to discuss the ethics of the local media. I can't tell you how many times we have been burned by both the Ledge and the the TV media who "have learned" about a story we ran and then followed it up.

Sounds like you work for WLBT. Maybe you can explain the discrepancy between Minnie Rhodes and the name on the property rolls -- Jennifer Sutton? Stop being defensive and help us out.

And, we all know that WLBT would have run with this at 5 or 6 p.m. had they had it soon enough. Did they?

They didn't because they like have fresh stuff for ten.

Jennifer Sutton has some kind of "rent-to-own" agreement with Minnie Rhodes.

She may have control over the place and pay the taxes, but she won't totally "own" it until she pays Rhodes in full. Hope that helps.

donna...one criticism well a couple...

more pictures take some pictures litter the story with them and give us a gallery too!!!!!!

record your interview and put them on the website both video and audio; mix it up...That will be awesome...(yeah don't tell me about resources because you know you will get plenty of ad money if you do this!!!:)

so all in all not negative criticism, but if you do stuff like that and keep breaking stories you have no problem and you know it!

What got me was Melton's comment to the effect that any time someone is arrested for dealing drugs in a house, it'll be torn down. Interesting approach, considering the number of drug arrests that result in acquittals. Certainly unconstitutional, certainly tortuous, and if it's not criminal, it should be.

I do wonder, now, what it will take for Kenneth Stokes and the Jackson Advocate to turn against him. You'd think that having his men (uniformed and otherwise) go around beating black people up and demolishing non-abandoned housing would raise a few eyebrows. The phrase "personality cult" is beginning to come to mind. I can't imagine what else would lead Kenneth Stokes to abandon his entire ward like this. Ordinarily you would not expect to see Stokes smile big and say "OF COURSE the city can beat up random black teenagers and destroy property at will!," but that's what his silence tells us and I think that's horribly unfortunate.

Not that Ben Allen is scoring any points right now, either. Where the hell is our City Council?


Peace,

TH

If you go back and watch the 6pm news. You will see a tease in the show for this story to air at ten. That would be very hard to shoot and turn around in less than one hour.

Not to mention Frank demolished that home in Washington Addition @ 2:30pm.

Here's a hint, insidestory: When someone else reports a story first, just say, "As reported on the Jackson Free Press Web site this afternoon ... ." It's simple. We do it all the time.

Minnie Rhodes is just a mortgage holder then...she's not the owner Sutton is. If Sutton defaults on the loan then Rhodes can foreclose...She should of identified her self appropriately...

Why would anyone do that unless you are going to use items from that story.

WLBT did its own legwork.

guy, we put some interviews on the Web site, and we plan to do a gallery of these photos (gallery added). We were the first paper around here to start using multimedia, blogs, PDFs, etc., so it's safe to say we "mix it up" already.

Insidestory, we know that the other media heard about this today Adam started investigating and started scrambling to do it today. Why do you think we posted it today? Because we knew that he had woke up the other media; he was the one telling all the official sources about it. BTW, where were your official sources other than Melton. Gone for the day?

Of course, the tease was there at 6 p.m. That gave y'all time to get it together in time for 10. You could've given credit where it's due, and you know it. No surprises.

Tom Head...stop inciting people...This is not a race issue. Why do you want it to be one? The freaking story is good enough without you trying to juice it up with what you want to hear.

saying things like
"go around beating black people "
is just plain wrong and irresponsible.

Why would they give credit to the source that broke the story and whose work alerted them to it? Come on, insidestory. Sounds like you've worked in Jackson media for too long.

Tom, I know: That was totally shocking. He's going to sledgehammer homes of people suspected of doing drugs?

And where is this guy?

No it's not, guy. That's who he is targeting. Brent Cox's Bull Connor comment was right on.

guy makes a good point, insidestory, about the owner situation.

This tired old argument is such B.S.

Fact the city is 70% + black
Fact the areas everyone's calling trouble areas is primaily black.
Fact Frank says he's black
Fact (history will confirm if you are not convinced already) Frank Melton is CRAZY. No matter his motivation he is just plain CRAZY.
Fact black people are the poorest, most uneducated, and thus most prone to commiting crimes. SocioEconomic and all the crap the "educated" will tell you confirm this.

Has anyone ever taken a ride over there where they are talking about? It's a freaking war zone. There are streets with houses with no doors and people just sitting on the porches and trash all over the place with broken down cars etc etc. Frank's definintely in the right area to fight crime in Jackson...His tactics just suck!

What's frank a black man trying to do run all the black people out?

Stokes is more a segragationists in my opinion than Melton (if that's what you are getting at on the Connor comments)...he's the one who is always saying black this and black that and we don't need no more white represenatives on the Council.

hehe...funny me and ladd agree on somethings...hehe

Remember I'm adamant...Frank is CRAZY; that's your root cause.

Isn't possession of marijuana a misdemeanor? How did they get him into the Detention Center. Thought non-violent folks usually were not kept.

Please, please, please Jackson Free Press, find out if Evans Welch is OK.
Alledgedly, he was beaten and arrested after his home was taken to with sledge hammers. The property can be repaired. Does anyone know if Evan is OK? Alledgedly he's in the Raymond jail. PLEASE see if he's alright.

Why haven't all of the news stations covered this.. not just WLBT? Why hasn't the Clarion Ledger covered this? WHY?

If Ms. Ladd's belief is correct.... Imagine the Washington Post and the New York Times are both working a story about Rummy beating off in a bathtoom at the pentagon, and both have separate sources, witnesses and interviews....the NYT publishes their story, on the web, three hours before the WaPo goes to print. Then, according to Ms. Ladd's theory, the WaPo should credit NYT in their story?!? No thanks. That is ludicris.

Get a grip Donna. Not everyone reads the JFP. I may be just one ( and I first saw it at 9pm...check the time of the original post) of three out of more than 100 at WLBT. The managers don't even pay attention. Good night.

First the satire:

In what break out session did they discuss this crime fighting tactic last night at the crime summit? ;-p

Ok seriously:

Mr. McCreery is this a property crime? Do you think you can get a conviction? Safe-City and N-Jam'ers do you think Mr. Melton and his crew should be let free on bail for Malicious Mischief on the felony level? Seems like it is good enough for the "thugs" who commit property crimes otherwise - especially those that happen near your homes. Are you true to what you preach? This was plain gang intimidation and destruction at the hands of the mayor, Frank Melton, as the leader - the influence and the instigator.

SEC. 97-17-67. Malicious mischief

(4) In all cases restitution to the victim for all damages shall be ordered. The value of property destroyed, disfigured or injured by the same party as part of a common crime against multiple victims may be aggregated together and if the value exceeds One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), shall be a felony.

6) Anyone who by any word, deed or act directly or indirectly urges, aids, abets, suggests or otherwise instills in the mind of another the will to so act shall be considered a principal in the commission of said crime and shall be punished in the same manner.

SOURCES: Codes, Hutchinson's 1848, ch. 64, art. 7(2); 1857, ch. 64, art. 202; 1871, Sec. 2709; 1880, Sec. 2919; 1892, Sec. 1209; 1906, Sec. 1287; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 1019; 1930, Sec. 1049; 1942, Sec. 2281; Laws, 1962, ch. 319; 1968, ch. 357, Sec. 1; Laws, 2003, ch. 434, § 1, HB 1105, eff from and after July 1, 2003.

Sure sounds like Malicious Mischief has more teeth in it, than Ben and Larry would have you believe on the radio, when you actually read MS Code. Larry, do you think that these men and Frank should be brought up on stage at the Telecom Center, as you suggested for another criminal in Jackson this morning on your show, and "beat the tar out of 'em" for a while? You said that was your one wish that could have happened at the Crime Summit? Some hardy laughs had by the three of y'all in studio. Is what happened on W. Ridgeway not a crime, as defined, by some of the same "thugs" you rail against everyday? Good for the Goose... Enjoy church!

And here is more relevant Ms Code for when Melton ripped up the FOI from the Clarion Ledger:

SEC. 97-11-1. Alteration of records.

If any clerk of any court, or public officer or any other person, shall wittingly make any false entry, or erase any work or letter, or change any record belonging to any court or public office, whether in his keeping or not, he shall, on conviction thereof, be imprisoned in the penitentiary for a term not exceeding ten years, and be liable to the action of the party aggrieved.

SOURCES: Codes, 1857, ch. 64, art. 10; 1871, Sec. 2489; 1880, Sec. 2703; 1892, Sec. 959; 1906, Sec. 1035; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 760; 1930, Sec. 778; 1942, Sec. 2004.

Here's a MS Code for when Melton wouldn't return the felon to Sheriff McMillan upon request when the guy was in the back seat of the car at the time:

SEC. 97-11-35. Failure to return known offenders; purposeful avoidance of knowledge of offense.

If any judge, justice court judge, constable, member of the board of supervisors, sheriff, or other peace officer, shall willfully neglect or refuse to return any person committing any offense against the laws, committed in his view or knowledge, or of which he has any notice, or shall willfully absent himself when such offense is being or is about to be committed, for the purpose of avoiding a knowledge of the same, he shall, on conviction, be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and may, in the discretion of the court, be removed from office.

SOURCES: Codes, 1871, Sec. 2889; 1880, Sec. 2756; 1892, Sec. 1225; 1906, Sec. 1301; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 1034; 1930, Sec. 1065; 1942, Sec. 2297; Laws, 1986, ch. 459, Sec. 41, eff from and after July 1, 1986.

Here's another for failure to preform duties:

SEC. 97-11-37. Failure to perform any duty.

If any person, being sheriff, clerk of any court, constable, assessor, or collector of taxes, or holding any county office whatever, or mayor, marshal, or constable, or any other officer of any city, town, or village, shall knowingly or willfully fail, neglect, or refuse to perform any of the duties required of him by law, or shall fail or refuse to keep any record required to be kept by law, or shall secrete the same, or shall violate his duty in any respect, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or both.

SOURCES: Codes, Hutchinson's 1848, ch. 33, art. 14(1); 1857, ch. 64, art. 62; 1871, Sec. 2890; 1880, Sec. 2757; 1892, Sec. 1226; 1906, Sec. 1302; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 1035; 1930, Sec. 1066; 1942, Sec. 2298; Laws, 1986, ch. 459, Sec. 42, eff from and after July 1, 1986.

And just in case the rumors I hear are true, this one may be important too:

SEC. 97-11-23. Drunkenness in office.

Any officer who shall be guilty of habitual drunkenness, or who shall be drunk while in the actual discharge of the duties of his office, or when called on to perform them, may be indicted therefor, and, upon conviction, shall be removed from office.

SOURCES: Codes, 1880, Sec. 424; 1892, Sec. 1233; 1906, Sec. 1309; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 1042; 1930, Sec. 1074; 1942, Sec. 2307.

Seem pretty clear what has to happen here. I would expect those who are championing that we better enforce the laws, per crime summit propaganda, better take that step if they want to maintain any type of creditability in the City.

But, I guess you guys see it as OK since the Mayor still says: (per WLBT)

The Mayor said, "If I catch anyone using drugs or dealing drugs out of a home, I am going to take it down."

You don't think some of your neighbors aren't abusing scripts or smoking weed right here in Eastover. Or that the children in NEJax/Madison/Rankin aren't "experimenting" with friends and drugs - usually at some parents house!

It sounds like Sutton has an installment land contract. The seller retains the title to the property while the buyer makes monthly installments to the seller. Usually this is done when the buyer cannot receive financing from a third party. Unfortunately, this is a very bad deal for buyer because if this transfer is not recorded (usually isn't) then seller can burden the property with liens that he will not be motivated to clear. Additionally, provisions in the contract are usually seller oriented and impose acceleration clauses when the buyer misses payments.

Hey just got a chance to read this, I was wondering if my homeowner's has an endorsement to cover property damage caused by "Frank Melton and his thugs" for when my sitter smoke a joint?

Thanks Pikersam for giving us this very valuable information of the Ms Codes. It dosen't make sense that anyone would argue that Melton is probably one of the worst "criminals" of mordern days.

IMO our AG has just totally been punked by Melton. I hope that the voters remember these non-actions on election day.

Melton is becoming a virus that is worse than the terrorism that we are now facing in our country. We are trying to keep the terrorists out, but we are allowing this terrorist playing a mayor to stay. It is a repulsive and severe blow to our city.

We MUST get this maniac our of office before ther is nothing left of this city but bad memories. I am ashamed for this idiot that we call mayor because obviously he dosen't have sense enough to feel ashamed himself. Kenneth Stokes had finally come out and let everyone know that he is for sale too. If Danks, Ditto, or even Johnson had done any of these things in his ward, he would have not stopped until they were tar and feathered and run out of town.

Melton had just given ALL of the criminal element a get-out-of-jail-free card with his actions. If anyone else commits any of these crimes now, they cannot be prosecuted either because they will simply say that "you didn't prosecute Frank".

Well, Mr. or Ms. Inside Story, unless I missed it, the State's largest newspaper did not offer any news on this important story. Just find it so difficult to believe they would not have covered this as they are a primary reason FM is in office, not to mention their responsibility to keep the public informed. Surely all of their reporters didn't take off for the holiday weekend!

I find it very telling that FM did not deny the story at all. I will find it very insulting if he and his 'boys' are not being questioned by authorities now. Someone on the City Council NEEDS to make a statement.

This is a very heavy road we are traveling but we are still Americans and the Constitution is still in effect and we need help and leadership.

*shakes head*

Chris-

You hit the nail on the head. He didn't deny it. He said, "I have no comment on that." Will anyone in power do something about this? We know the cops won't, and we know where the A.G. stands. Who is left? the D.A and the Feds...we'll just have to see what happens.

We all know that the state's largest paper is often times asleep at the wheel.

Go by the house today. I promise you they will be out there. Now that is an organization that needs to give credit where credit is due.

Kudos to WLBT for giving this story legs, but a (hopefully constructive) criticism, as well. Reporters for the station need to be encouraged a bit in the art of the follow-up question, instead of simply seeking the obligatory "response from the Mayor" and calling it a day. This may be increasingly important, as Melton appears to be falling into a pattern of categorically denying actions alleged by others.

If the reporters are too nervous to have the questions in mind, producers should encourage them to jot them down in their reporter's notebook before turning on the camera. Some possibilities include:

"Mr. Mayor, eyewitnesses place you and the mobile command unit at the house last Saturday. What's your response?"

"Was the mobile command center out of your control at any time last Saturday?"

"Where is Mr. Welch being held?"

"On what evidence is Mr. Welch being held?"

I'm guessing some of these questions couldn't be asked yesterday because WLBT didn't have the story yet when they interviewed the mayor. But, armed with whatever research you had after getting wind of the story, I'd certainly encourage the news team to consider their responsibilty to not just get an "official" reaction from the mayor, but to also hold him accountable for his answers via follow-ups.

It may be an existential question for WLBT, which has a history of being the "official" outlet for Mr. Melton's point of view, both during his stint in management and via some less-than-antagonistic coverage during the campaign and later.

WLBT has a storied legacy -- the station came up again in a book I'm reading right now about the media and its civic responsibility. But it goes without saying that for many years the station has clearly had a close relationship with the man who is now Mayor -- that relationship still seems to affect the news department's willingness to ask follow-ups, particularly when you have the powerful inducement of a TV camera pointed at the man. At least, that's the perception I'm left with after watching last night -- perhaps subsequent reports will disabuse me of that notion. :-)

"Where is Mr. Welch being held?".... if you took the time to watch or read the story, Welch was sentenced to 120 days in jail. He is at the Raymond Detention Center. This voids the your next question "On what evidence is Mr. Welch being held?" The charges are in the police docket. He obviously plead Guilty or was found guilty on the misdamenor charges during a municipal court hearing

"Mr. Mayor, eyewitnesses place you and the mobile command unit at the house last Saturday. What's your response?"....

His response to this question was .... "I don't know anything about any of that," said Melton. "We just know that it was a drug house. We have got cocaine, marijuana, paraphernalia and children out of that house." When asked about the destruction of the home, Melton said, "I don't have any comment on that."


"Was the mobile command center out of your control at any time last Saturday?".... it is never out of his control. It lives at his house.

Todds: "I'm guessing some of these questions couldn't be asked yesterday because WLBT didn't have the story yet when they interviewed the mayor."

Fact: Melton was interviews at 2:30, when called all the media to the washington addition to watch him bulldozer a home. The reporter who interviewed had been working the story for more than a day. He asked as many questions he could before the mayor walked away.

as for all your other points...they have been read and absorbed.

constructive criticism is always appreciated. I believe your co-worker used the term "Schmucks" to describe WLBT....ummm. last time I checked, that was not considered constructive.

We've got a mayor who thinks it's okay to tear up houses if he thinks there's drug activity there. To be honest, I have a hard time getting worked up over this stuff when we're dealing with that rather frightening fact. I know WLBT played a role in getting Melton elected through its terrible and largely one-sided coverage of the mayoral campaign, but I'd like to move on to the bigger problem of how we can deal with this mayor now and hold him accountable for his activities.

I do agree that it sounds like it's down to Peterson and the USDOJ. I think Hood has demonstrated that he has no intention of doing anything that might jeopardize his chances in next year's election campaign, and Melton can't be counted on to self-regulate. We need for him to be indicted by someone outside of the city or state system, and that leaves the county D.A. and the federal government.

I do think there might be a federal case made on the basis of multiple civil rights violations, but I'm not familiar enough with the law on this matter to say for sure.


Cheers,

TH

What are the laws regarding a recall petition?

Tom, I think that our City Council, especially those who are most representative of it, are even more ineffective than Jim Hood. At least Jim Hood wrote him a letter! Half our Council must be too scared to cite law as to why he is unfit to be mayor, and the other half are just Melton apologists. Allowing tactics that are akin to how whites kept blacks in their place in the past.

I think it is well established that the TV news stations, especially WLBT, went the extra distance to insure that Melton was portrayed as the only candidate for Jackson mayor before the election. They are largely responsible for why we have reached this point. However, if WLBT feels strongly that this must be further investigated, then let's put down the arms between the two media sides and work to make sure this NEVER HAPPENS IN JACKSON AGAIN. You have to forgive us if the TV stations and the Ledge have given us little reason to think otherwise. Only you can change that fact by actually reporting better and in more detail.

In case the N'Jam'ers and his political allies think a little rehab or reshuffling of Melton's priorities will solve this problem, I have two words:

Marion Barry!

Donna, didn't we get into this a while back and learn that there isn't a municipal recall process?

I do think it would help, though, if the City Council were to censure Melton for his activities. It would provide both Hood and Peterson with some political cover, and make it clear that his behavior does not represent the city. That's not a recall, but it would be almost a symbolic recall. Unfortunately, it is not at all clear that this City Council is prepared to stand up for people like Evans Welch and Michael Black. What else is new, huh?


Cheers,

TH

Well, if Evans Welch is truly a vulnerable adult, and all indications are that he is, then has he been in the Hinds County Detention Center for a week saying, "I paid the rent". Does he even know why he is there? If someone was selling dope of any description from his home, was he cognizant of this and of consequences? Is incarceration of this man the proper placement for him? Was he represented by an attorney? If his mother is truthful, and she seems to be, she did not know where he was. Was a mental evaluation ordered? I could continue, but you all get my drift........more to follow.........

Tom Head, Agreed. Don't believe there is a 'recall' provision as most of us laymen understand it. BUT, there are several other laws I believe that could come into play. I am trusting that Fay Peterson is working overtime this weekend. My guesses, again as a layman, are:

Federal Law: Civil Rights Violations; Bill of Rights Violations

State Law: The restrictions placed on him by the AG. Violation of his Oath of Office and the State Constitution. I would think our State Criminal Investigation Bureau would be working overtime this weekend also. How about Hate Crimes?

County and City: Misuse of City property and funds. Again, impersonating a police officer (FM handcuffed him). Somehow, misusing power of the office he is sworn to uphold. Threats and intimidations. Vulnerable adult intimidation. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

We need Ray Carter in town to help us make some sense of this..............

In case the N'Jam'ers and his political allies think a little rehab or reshuffling of Melton's priorities will solve this problem, I have two words:

Marion Barry!

A-MEN, brother! I moved to DC from Jackson a few months before the Vista Hotel incident. I remember Barry very well. (He's on the DC City Council now, IINM.)

I remember one of my friends in Jackson asked me to apologize to Washingtonians from Mississippians for sending him up there. (Barry is originally from Itta Bena.)

Best,
Tim

Are there any attorneys out there willing to look into the charges against Evans Welch?? Someone needs to come to his rescue.

I would also think that if Melton ever kept anyone forcibly in a hotel room without a warrant, there would at least be the possibility of a false arrest charge. Not to mention firearm charges.

But I can't see Jim Hood ever wanting to intervene. Remember how he talked out of both sides of his mouth in the earlier conflict between Melton and Peterson--writing Melton a harsh letter on one hand, and giving off a "now You People get along" vibe in the MSM (or at least that's how I interpreted it). He's trying to play to both Melton supporters and Melton critics, and indicting Melton would force him to choose. I don't think he's interested in doing that, politically, but I'd love to be surprised.


Cheers,

TH

He's trying to play to both Melton supporters and Melton critics, and indicting Melton would force him to choose. -Tom Head

You're absolutely right Tom. But if Hood dosen't make a choice of what he is going to do, the effects could means the begining of the end for the AG. Frank's support base is dwindling down to nothing. If Hood is trying to play both ends against the middle, it could leave him S.O.L.

At this point I believe that it would be more profitable for him to join forces with Peterson and bring this unorthodoxed idiot to justice. Right now the tide is slowing turning away from Frank. I have talked with some of the people in the neighborhoods that Frank is doing his demolitions and some of them are seeing the mayor for his true colors.

Frank has displayed himself as a liar, a fake, and on a mission. The problems is that the mission seems to be one that is giving the thugs all of the rights. When they get into trouble with the law, he goes after them and then turns right around and puts them up at his house.

A blogger made a comment earlier that Stkoes has sold out to Frank also. I believe that anyone who wants to run against Stokes in the next election should be taking note of all of the things that are going around Kenneth, make a comparision of the previous mayors, and bring Stokes down from off of his perch.l

rufus, I agree with you on what Hood should do, but I don't expect him to do it. Like so many white "moderates" in the Mississippi Democratic Party, he seems to be a rational elitist at heart--someone who prides himself on being above the fray and not losing "credibility" by taking a principled stand, at least not unless it's extremely popular.

What Hood would probably need before indicting Melton would be good political cover, either via a federal indictment of Melton, or a City Council censure, or polling data that indicates that Melton is no longer popular with the people of Jackson, or direct criticism from the Mississippi governor. I don't expect him to do anything on his own, and I don't expect him to do anything in conjunction with Peterson alone.

In other words, I don't expect him to just show up and do his job. I expect him to do the politically expedient thing. I would love to be wrong, but so far he has given me no reason to question my skepticism.


Cheers,

TH

Insidestory: I'm on my Blackberry so it's hard to cut and paste for a blow-by-blow response, but I'll just say this -- your response betrays exactly the sort of logic that I'm getting at. You're going to *official* sources for *official* responses. But I think the real story you could have gotten is "what did the mayor know about this and when?" From the mayor's responses to the questions you *did* put on the air, it was clear that he knew the details, while claiming "no comment" on his own role, if any. By not following up on air, you end up passing on an opportunity to get him to respond directly to those questions with either more obfuscation or with more specifics, either of which would be telling. Instead, the upshot looks like you softballed it.

In other words, you're allowing your assumptions about how those questions would be answered (or similar follow-ups) keep you from asking them in the first place. Why? I'm guessing that you're concerned that you would lose access. (I'm saying "you" meaning WLBT since you haven't disavowed a connection, so I apologize if that's presumptuous. Substitute "WLBT" for "you" if appropriate.)

I'm focused on the media portion of this story for two reasons: (1) I have the opportunity here with a willing respondent and (2) because we're not going to solve this problem if the media let the mayor get off with an "official" response. If the news stations don't stay on the mayor until they're satisfied that the public's *right* to an answer has been fulfilled, then they're not taking enough risks on their coverage. It's time for the MSM to start taking those risks along with Donna, Adam, Brian and others who have been more than willing to go toe-to-toe with the mayor on this sort of story.

We'd be remiss if we didn't point out that when the 99 year old lady was brutally mugged, who happen to teach several high profile city leaders, that they made sure to get in the media and denounce the crime and call for a summit.

Now we have the Mayor causing wanton destruction upon a little old lady's rental house (key word RENTAL, how is she to know what her tenant is doing?) at the hands of youths who came off a city owned police vehicle; and we hear nothing. Hmmmm....?

Could the Meltonites really think there is a way to spin this that doesn't wreck the publics trust in those who are supposed to protect them?

I realize it is a holiday weekend (hope everyone has a good one); but, that doesn't mean we can't get statements from our leaders if the media has called them.

Todds-

I will add one more thing. Witnesses place Melton at the home. You are not going to get a confession from him no matter how many times you ask...all you can do is ask creative questions.

I apprciate your civility...I can't say the same for your co-workers.
This willing participant is not so willing anymore.

There are many people on this board, including myself, who would like to focus on the issue at hand. Goodbye.

Fact the areas everyone's calling trouble areas is primaily black...
Fact black people are the poorest, most uneducated, and thus most prone to commiting crimes. SocioEconomic and all the crap the "educated" will tell you confirm this.

As an African American woman with a college degree, no criminal record, and not a baby's mama, I just want you to know that the way you made this statement is highly insulting to me. If you wish to pass judgment on an entire ethnic group because of some statistics, please include the history behind why the problems are occurring. Would you call all Native Americans alcoholics, assume that every Hispanic you see are illegal immigrants, or expect all people of East Indian descent to own a convenience store? I wouldn't assume that all whites are KKK members because of the actions of a few, so return the favor.

Has anyone ever taken a ride over there where they are talking about? It's a freaking war zone. There are streets with houses with no doors and people just sitting on the porches and trash all over the place with broken down cars etc etc.

Once again, look at WHY instead of just passing judgment. Don't look down on a man unless you're helping him off the ground. No, I'm not talking about welfare.

What's frank a black man trying to do run all the black people out?

Could be - who knows? During slavery, there were slaves who earned brownie points from their masters for being snitches, and some slaves were overseers of their own. This could be a modern form.

If I am reading the MS code correctly, Melton could be removed from office. But it is highly unlikely. The problem is two fold, first the crime has to be severe enough to impose at least a one year imprisonment. This should be easy enough considering the nature of the alleged crimes committed. Secondly the actual process that would have to take place would in all likelihood take longer than what Melton still has left to serve (unless of course he entered a guilty plea, but what are the odds of that). Here is the code if anyone wants to read it to see if you get anything different out of it:

§ 25-5-1. Removals from office.
If any public officer, state, district, county or municipal, shall be convicted in any court of this state or any other state or in any federal court of any felony other than manslaughter or any violation of the United States Internal Revenue Code, of corruption in office or peculation therein, or of gambling or dealing in futures with money coming to his hands by virtue of his office, any court of this state, in addition to such other punishment as may be prescribed, shall adjudge the defendant removed from office; and the office of the defendant shall thereby become vacant. If any such officer be found by inquest to be of unsound mind during the term for which he was elected or appointed, or shall be removed from office by the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise lawfully, his office shall thereby be vacated; and in any such case the vacancy shall be filled as provided by law.

If any such officer be found by inquest to be of unsound mind during the term for which he was elected or appointed...

I think this is our best bet. :-)

If any such officer be found by inquest to be of unsound mind during the term for which he was elected or appointed -Fyrefitr14

That shouldn't be too hard to prove. I can think of at least ten issues that Melton has acted in a manner not considered "normal".

1. Refused to sit next to a man at a function because he was an ex-con, but has hired several ex-cons.
2. The Vidal Sullivan issue.
3. The Batman issue.
4. His flip-flop on the King Edward.
5. The infamous document shredding issue.
6. The retention of the three police for beating a youth while he was in handcuffs, but he tried to fire five firemen for telling the truth.
7. The "illegal" house burnings.
8. The vehicle searches during random traffic stops even though he is not a certified law enforcement officer.
9. The boarding of airplanes with weapons.
10. The lie he told about solving crime in his first ninety days.

If any such officer be found by inquest to be of unsound mind during the term for which he was elected or appointed...

I think this is our best bet. :-)

While I agree with you on this one, I also think it would be hard to prove. At least with the other we have tangible facts to back it up.

I really don't think that it would be that hard to declare Melton mentally incompentent if we went outside the state and found a psychologist that would do an unbiased evaluation. Hopefully someone that has no knowledge of Melton, or the fact that he is the mayor of Jackson.

I really don't think that it would be that hard to declare Melton mentally incompentent if we went outside the state and found a psychologist that would do an unbiased evaluation. Hopefully someone that has no knowledge of Melton, or the fact that he is the mayor of Jackson.

I kind of disagree with you on that one. Call him eccentric, arrogant, incapable of running a major city, or just plain stupid if you want, but to declare him mentally incompetant I think would be a stretch. That's usually reserved for people who can't function for themselves unassisted with basic day to day living, i.e. mentally handicapped persons who can't handle their money or cook without burning down the house, things such as these. We have to face the fact that Melton is a successful businessman, and that he managed to get elected in the first place. I just think it would be a stretch, or just wishful thinking!

Thank you, Margaret!! We need to know someone is caring.

Yeah, can we put the 'we were here first' pissing match on the troll board? There is much more relevant and important conversation occuring here.

All hail on of the best and now the bravest leader in Jackson - Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon. She is saying the things that need to be said so far:

"It truly is horrifying. We have a crime problem in this city, but you don't combat crime with lawlessness," said Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon.

The councilwoman said policing Jackson should be left up to J.P.D. She said the city can't afford behavior like this.

"I am looking very seriously at what the next step is," said Barrett-Simon. "I feel that there will certainly be a full investigation by the city council. I will push for that."

What is really sick is how Melton is responding:

Outside his Jackson home the mayor was asked it he felt sorry for the destruction of Evans Welch's homes.

"No," said Melton. "Not if they are selling drugs out of it. And if we find some more people who are selling drugs out of their house there is no telling what will happen." emphasis mine

Then there is this:

The Welch's said their son called them last Saturday and made a startling accusation.

"He said Mr. Frank hit me with a hammer and tore the house up," said Ms. Welch.

Melton denies this part; but, how can we believe him given that the whole evening was one big joy ride of destruction and beatings, (upper level), at the hands of what NJam'ers call "thugs" and possibly a russian man who may be a deputy with the sheriff's department.

This is utterly sick! I hope the rest of the Council joins the councilwoman to see that a full investigation is began and that the proper authorities will be contacted with the State and the Federal law enforcement agencies.

Well, the Ledge finally got the story out. Front page. No mention of Welch's disability.

Melton's "I never had a sledgehammer in my hands!" remark is strangely reminiscent of "I didn't inhale". Orley seems to be writing about Melton's mental health in a non-humorous way. No editorials regarding this. No explaination as to why they didn't respond last week as I understand they were contacted.

I can hear the breakfast conversations now: "Can you BELIEVE he did this?" "Well, it says it right here and I caught something about it on TV the other night." " Oh, yeah, Kim Wade said something right at the last of his show." "Well, what do you expect? Its just Jackson!"

Here's the link to the article: Residents: Melton helped wreck house.

On the subject of recall and other potential laws broken:
- imitating a police officer
- kidnapping (if some bold parent wasn't scared to call Melton on taking their child and using them as a marketing tool)

This may sound like a stupid question but has the owner finally filed charges? If this did happen, it's at least vandalism and potentially more... The mayor is at least an accessory to the crime if not the ringleader/organizer.

This makes me sick.

This may sound like a stupid question but has the owner finally filed charges? -Knol Aust

That is a VERY intelligible question. I hate to repeat rumors, but some people are saying that Melton rode to the hospital with the manager from the Upper Level to try and dissuade him from filing charges. Given Melton's past I am leaning toward the belief that he is not beyond using methods of persuassion to keep people from going after him.

I am proud of Councilwoman Barrett-Simon for standing up. Where is Stokes? Is he hiding out at Melton's Mansion for the Undesirables also? This is HIS ward. Why is he so quiet now? This inaction makes him a poor excuse for a ward representative and a poor excuse for a human being.

His inate fear of Melton is allowing the mayor to run rampant over the people of this neighborhood. Frank Melton is out of control and must be stopped. This tirade of his is nothing short of comparision to Saddam Hussien or any other terrorist. What if someone gets hurt physically............OOPS I forgot, someone already has (the Upper Level incident).

No one condones crime. We just don't want to see crime solved with more crime.

This tirade of his is nothing short of comparision to Saddam Hussien or any other terrorist.

Well, Melton hasn't killed anyone. Yet. That we know of.

*sigh*

Best,
Tim

Here's the money quote from today's C-L article posted by knol:

Melton acknowledges he was at the house on Ridgeway Street in Virden Addition but was reluctant Saturday to talk about his actions while there. He initially said he had no comment when asked about specific allegations .

But when pressed, Melton said, "I never had a sledgehammer in my hand."

For example: You know when a drive-by shooting happens the driver usually doesn't have the gun! And, someone probably called for the shooting higher up then the shooter. Are they not as guilty as the shooter if it is a premeditated crime? Safe-City what is your take?

Knol, any public official that tries to explain this away makes me sick!

And this just makes it worst:

Several neighbors said that sometime between 9-10 p.m. on Aug. 26, the Jackson Police Department's Mobile Command Unit pulled up in front of the duplex. Melton got out with a sledgehammer, they said, and he began directing youths accompanying him to destroy the house.

"The mayor was out there with his gun on his side, telling the kids what to do," said Crystal Gaines, 42. She said she was in the area visiting her mother when she saw Melton with the youths. "I saw kids out there tearing it up."

Melvin Jackson, who lives down the street, said he, too, saw a group of young men wrecking the unit and Melton was standing out front. Jackson said he was inside his house when he heard glass shattering, and he walked outside to see what was happening. Jackson said he then went back into his house.

Neighbors said Melton and the youths were at the building twice that night.

That is some youth mentor we got here! He connects so well with the younger people! He's clearly the type of man that can relate to these inner city children and give them a shinning example of how to be a man! What a bunch of crap!

Hmmm....you meant Kenneth Stokes who once owned two properties in the late 80's that were determined to be crack houses and he didn't kow that they were dealing drugs out of them?

connect the dots.

Yeah. I don't think Stokes is afraid of Melton; I just think he's a completely soulless politician who doesn't really give a damn about his constituents, or racism for that matter, and that this just happens to be the first time he's been in a situation where that has become clear.

I know some of y'all like Stokes, so I hope I'm wrong. But what other explanation could there be for his refusal to stand up to Melton?


Cheers,

TH

OK...y'all don't want me to harp on this, but...kudos to the C-L for *pressing* the mayor after his denials. Follow-up questioning got the money quote:

--- But when pressed, Melton said, "I never had a sledgehammer in my hand." ---

Just sayin'. I'm off my soapbox now.

Meanwhile, I haven't seen anyone discuss the charges that Welch is being held under...don't those charges (paraphernalia, possession, 'open container'??) seem a little light for a drug dealing kingpin? And, some legal mind out there -- has he been in court? why is he serving time? Why haven't his parents been able to contact him, arrange bail, etc?

yes there are reasons Tom but not the kind that you will put in writing in a public forum.

Well, I'm just guessing but:

Traffic Violation. Probably would not move as he was in shock at what was happening to his home. Or maybe he didn't yeild for the Mobile Command Unit to park.

Open Container. Could have been beer. Might have been sitting on his blue sofa drinking beer, watching TV, when the house was attacked then wandered to the street in dismay.

Paraphernalia. Could be anything.

Possessing Marijuana. More than an ounce?

As mentioned earlier, how did they find room at the Hinds County Detention Center if none of the above are more than a misdemeanor? I though there was never space for non-violent offenders.

Also, the C-L did not discuss at all the mental disability of Evans Welch.

Now, as to the "...never had a sledgehammer in my hands" Melton, perhaps he was using the 'Flintstone-like Club' mentioned in the fracus at the Upper Level the same night.

I'm just trusting that some gracious attorney type has gone to Raymond and interviewed and offered to represent Evans Welch.

By the way, who lived on the other side of the duplex Is it still livable? Are the utilities still on? Trivial points but just curious.

I have a family member who knows Evans Welch and his parents. Remember now that Welch is mentally disabled. From what I understand, Evans doesn't own a car and hasn't had a driver's license for years. So what's the deal about him being charged with a traffic violation and open container?? Is this just a trumped up charge? Did Melton simply not realize when Welch was arrested that the man doesn't drive? If the traffic violation charge is indeed false, could the marajuana and paraphernalia charges be false as well? Were the charges used as an excuse to get the poor guy locked up, so that he couldn't tell the truth about what happened to him last Sat night? Remember, when he called his mother from jail, he thought he was being arrested because police didn't believe that he'd paid his rent.

Did Melton simply not realize when Welch was arrested that the man doesn't drive?

That's no excuse. If you want to charge somebody with something, even something as seemingly trivial as a traffic violation, you'd better be damned sure they actually did it. "Oops, I did it again" won't do.

If the traffic violation charge is indeed false, could the marajuana and paraphernalia charges be false as well? Were the charges used as an excuse to get the poor guy locked up, so that he couldn't tell the truth about what happened to him last Sat night?

Hmm, ya think? :-P

Pikersam quotes: "Several neighbors said that sometime between 9-10 p.m. on Aug. 26, the Jackson Police Department's Mobile Command Unit pulled up in front of the duplex. Melton got out with a sledgehammer, they said, and he began directing youths accompanying him to destroy the house.
Melvin Jackson, who lives down the street, said he, too, saw a group of young men wrecking the unit and Melton was standing out front. Jackson said he was inside his house when he heard glass shattering, and he walked outside to see what was happening. Jackson said he then went back into his house."

I wonder if any of the neighbors thought to video record Melton's antics?
This is something the average citizen could easily do.
He/she could gather as much incriminating evidence against the man as possible.
Anonymous citizens could simply trail (at a reasonable distance of course) the mobile command center around Jackson, and privately video record, as evidence, Melton's illegal antics and tirades.
Once recorded, copies could be sent to various media outlets, the AG's office, the DA's office, city council's office etc.
As the old saying goes, a picture's worth a thousand words.
When citizens band together, ANYTHING'S possible, but if all we do is talk and complain, nothing will be done to slow this man down. It takes ACTION.

Sounds nice in theory.

here come the stalking and harrassment and obstruction of justice charges.

Now playing devils advocte here, suppose they were meeting undercover agents for example, want that on video? want that put out there.

These tactics if done as you suggested would be borderline harrassment etc and it would simply give Melton a scapegoat to use. What is not happening is no one files charges on him. Why hasn't the nightclub owner done so? Why hasn't this tenant or landlord done so? We can report it all day but if no one sues or files charges, that undercuts the criticism of Melton.

What needs to happen is what you initially suggested. When he pulls this crap, someone needs to run the camera. However, what happened last week at that night club was a warning. Shoot pictures and I will have you arrested and beaten. Go ahead and sue me, it will be my word against yours and I've already destroyed your evidence.

"By the way, who lived on the other side of the duplex Is it still livable? Are the utilities still on? Trivial points but just curious." - ChrisC

Chris, from the pic on the C-L's site, it looks like the other half is not occupied. Either that or Entergy came and snatched the meter.

Kingfish says, "Shoot pictures and I will have you arrested and beaten. Go ahead and sue me, it will be my word against yours and I've already destroyed your evidence."

First of all, there's no crime in video recording a PUBLIC incident.
Remember the "Rodney King" incident?

Secondly, one must be discrete and inconspicuous enough NOT to get caught.

When fighting against injustices done anywhere, there's always some risk involved, especially when it involves elected officials.
The question to ask oneself is, does the risks outweigh the result?

FEAR, I repeat FEAR of repercussion has prevented many average citizens from helping to make Jackson a better place.

Regarding the undercover statement, last I recall, Melton's NOT a law enforcement official, so your theory's a moot point.

Does anyone think the mayor or his gang of Bull Connor dogs will face criminal charges? If you or I'd intentionally destroyed private property, we'd be in jail today.

Does anyone see the irony of the Crime Summit on Thursday knowing this had happened?

Joerob, yes it is FEAR. It was FEAR when the KKK was doing it and it is FEAR now. They have the guns. I surely wouldn't follow them, but we pay several branches of Law Enforcement to be following him and I hope some are doing so. Fear and intimidation are the tools of the bully, the dictator, and the abuser.

Brent, you are absolutely right. We would be waiting that 751 days for a trial!

Melton stated that they removed children from the house. What children? Where are they? Did children live with Evans Welch?

When was this sentance of 120 days pronounced on Evans Welch? Did he have an attorney? What was told the Judge and who was the Judge? Who appeared for the JPD? Were there any other witnesses against Mr. Welch?

Joerob, do you bother to read every word I write?

I didn't say Melton was a cop. It wouldn't matter. He usually has police with him anyway, his bodyguards, and it would matter WHO he was meeting with. He claims he is meeting undercover people, something within his authority, then he will trot out the obstruction of justice charge or something similar.

I agree. I have many questions, too. Adam and Brian will have a longer, more complete story in the print edition (link added), so keep the questions coming! (And, uh, we know that the other media are watching this site for updates. Sorry I called y'all "schucks," insidestory. Allow me to amend it to say that not giving credit where it's due (or, say, only covering a story because other media are on it) is "schucky" behavior. Worse, that kind of past media coverage by the MSM has not helped this city and is in no smart part responsible for the mess we're in now. The media could have been straightforward about Melton's crazy antics during the campaign, while at MBN, etc. But, do through the archives and what do you see: Media coverage slamming Chief Moore, for instance, for being upset that Melton was, uh, "bringing in" so-called Wood STreet Players without dealing with the JPD. And now we see where that got us? With bad evidence that got through out of court.

So, suffice it to say that we will keep talking about community journalism, and when it's good and when it's not, until the cows come home. We will also continue discussing our mayor and other public servants inside out, as we have done since this paper launched. We are perfectly capable of holding more than one thought, and having more than one converation, at a time.

As for this instance, it is breathtaking. Mr. Melton must be stopped. Every incident is worst than the last. Pause a moment and just imagine where that can take us if we do not do something about a man who does not believe the law applies to him. ANY public official at this point who does not step up and speak out against what is happening in our city right now should be held responsible at election time. I don't care what party they are, or anything else. This is an utter outrage.

I meant, "schmucky." Sorry. ;-)

BTW, they're saying on the Ledge forum that thousands of fans booed Melton at the JSU game. Who was there? Witnesses? Report?

Ladd, the MSM would never show up at the past mayor's brown bag lunches where he was available to answer questions about Jackson. Where information about good projects and updates on crime were discussed. Remember all the cranes downtown. Sadly, very few press people ever came. Does Melton even hold these type of informal meeting to chat with the press?

Then the Ledge decided to ignore numerous stories they wrote in the mid 90's that detailed a very troubled past for Melton and Blunston. The MBN/Clarion Ledger suit is clear evidence that the paper had any interest in covering the positive things going on in Jackson, including the lowering of crime as a steady pace, less it portray the past mayor in a positive light in an election year. Marshall Ramsey didn't really pay too much attention to the facts either!

We can only "what if" had Johnson been Mayor during Katrina; but, rest assured he would have fared better afterwards with the new development opportunities that are springing up due to GOZone legislation.