Marcell 'Big Daddy' Jackson says he was walking to his barbecue stand at 5 a.m. when a police officer ticketed him for walking in the street. Mr. Jackson said he believes that racial profiling is at work. 'If walking in the street is against the law, it needs to be against the law for everyone, not just Midtown,' he said.
Marcell Jackson and the St. Joseph Police Department each have their own story to tell about an alleged case of racial profiling that occurred earlier this month in Midtown.
Aside from the race issue, the accounts are nearly identical.
Both sides agree that Mr. Jackson was walking down the middle of the road when he met a police cruiser going the opposite direction at 5 a.m. Sept. 1 in the 500 block of South 20th Street. Mr. Jackson kept walking in the street until the police turned around and pulled up behind him, at which point he stepped onto the curb. Mr. Jackson and two police officers then argued about the validity of the ordinance in question - "walking in the street when a sidewalk is provided" - and Mr. Jackson accused the officers of racial profiling. At some point, officer Jason Wilhoit issued Mr. Jackson a ticket, and there lies the difference in the two stories: timing.
Police said Mr. Jackson was argumentative throughout the incident, while Mr. Jackson said he did not make any racial accusations until after Mr. Wilhoit began writing the ticket.
"I couldn't believe it at first and I didn't want to sign (the ticket), but I knew I would be in the wrong, so I went ahead," Mr. Jackson said.
Police Chief Chris Connally admitted the ordinance in question usually results in a warning instead of a citation, but said Mr. Jackson's tone justified the ticket. He maintained that racial profiling was not a factor.
According to the chief, officers who stop someone for walking in the street direct the person to the sidewalk. Tickets are not issued unless the subject states their intent to continue disobeying the law or accuses officers of an offense like racial profiling. Mr. Jackson did both, according to the officers' report.
Mr. Jackson said his incident sheds light on a wider problem in Midtown. Police expect people to stay on the sidewalks, yet many sidewalks are overgrown and in such disrepair that they are dangerous to walk on in the dark.
When Mr. Jackson started selling barbecue at 18th and Messanie streets, he didn't even realize he had a sidewalk until he mowed the grass and saw jagged bricks poking through the grass.
Officers have stopped to talk to Mr. Jackson on his walks to work before.
"They say, 'Hey, Big Daddy, where you goin?' and I tell them I'm going to work to fire up the smoker and they just wave and drive off. Half of them eat here," Mr. Jackson said.
In addition to Mr. Jackson's ticket, police have issued seven citations in the past year for walking in the street. All seven offenses occurred in Midtown.
"That's a high-crime area with a lot of drug traffic, a lot of open-air crime," Mr. Connally said. "If I lived in Midtown and the police saw someone walking in the street in front of my house at night, I'd want them to stop that person and check it out."
Mr. Connally referred to a hit-and-run incident where a man walking in the street was killed last year on Christmas Eve - an example of the dangers of walking in the street after dark.
Mr. Jackson wants to know why tickets haven't been issued to any of the people he has seen walking on Lovers Lane or running on the Parkway. After all, both streets have a sidewalk or running trail along the road.
"If walking in the street is against the law, it needs to be against the law for everyone, not just Midtown," Mr. Jackson said.
Mr. Jackson spoke to the Police Department's professional standards department about the incident. He initially believed police did not acknowledge his report. Mr. Connally insisted the department would investigate the incident, and officers would be punished if any wrongdoing was discovered.
As for Mr. Jackson, he just wishes he had somewhere else to plead his case before he appears in court. He talked to the mayor and the city prosecutor, with no results.
"Who do you go to when you don't know who to talk to?" he asked.
Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.
Share Your Thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. We do not review every post or respond to every removal suggestion. Comments that threaten someone or degrade them on the basis of gender, race, class, national origin, religion or disability will be removed. Comments containing abusive, vulgar or sexually-oriented language will be removed. Comments that spread rumors or lies will be removed. Please discuss only what has been factually proven. Comments posted in all caps will be removed. Stay on topic! Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatant cutting and pasting is not acceptable. Comments must be kept under 250 words or less. Stjoenews.net moderators also reserve the right to remove comments for any reason they deem worthy. Click here for our full user agreement.
Papa says...
I think this had gotten all blown out of porportion.
September 16, 2009 at 1:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ksmith says...
I agree it has gotten blow out of proportion but, look at the facts, they are passing out less than one ticket a month and all in midtown. That is not right either. Noone will ever know how it really went except Mr Jackson and the two officers who were there.
September 16, 2009 at 5:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
I think this should have been just a warning for Mr Jackson.I know if I thought I was being targeted by the police for something as petty as this I would get defensive as well.As well the sidewalks in midtown proabably are not in the best shape to be walking on, the street in probably safer to walk in. Mr Jackson is right there are the same things going on in other parts of town and there are sidewalks for these people.I would say it is in the best interest to drop Mr Jackson ticket.Oh but thats right they will make a example of Mr Jackson for the midtown people and let other areas of town continue to do this.I would say our police dept have bigger fish to fry than things like this.Boy our whole city has not changed in over 30 plus years ran by the good ol boys club and if you buck the good ol boys club there is heck to pay.I have lived in other parts of the country and have not seen the good ol boys club at work as hard as I have here the most of my life.Time for changing this approach.This goes for the city goverment,school district.As far as our city court I do not know why our city procecutor would not talk to Mr Jackson I have went and talked to her before and got a speeding ticket reduced for I did not get any points on my licence.
September 16, 2009 at 5:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tom1958 says...
Just go to court and pay your fine or plead your case, it seems he just wants to keep this going. Let it go already, I dont believe it was racial profiling. The officer mentioned is one of the nicest officers there are and I dont believe for one second he issued this ticket for racial profiling. There are other more important issues to worry about in this town then him not getting his ticket fixed before his court date.
September 16, 2009 at 5:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
megafrog says...
I think the ticket is justified. If it starts off with a warning and then the person being warned starts getting argumentative then give them the ticket. Either way, it is an offense where a ticket is merited by the law (be the law dumb or not). If I were dumb enough to argue with an officer over an infraction, I would expect a ticket!
September 16, 2009 at 5:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thunder86 says...
I received a speeding ticket from Ofc. Wilhoit once (I know it's not the same thing), and I must say he was very professional and pleasant although he was very no nonsense about the thing. It was the fastest ticket I've ever gotten.
I still feel like if Mr. Jackson truly has an issue with the ticket he should just go to court and argue it out there like every other person.
If the sidewalk is so bad, has he complained to the city previously? I'm not saying that a complaint would actually get the issue solved but it would certainly help his case.
September 16, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jpbec says...
I agree the law should be enforced throughout the City and not just one area, we have sidewalks along most of the parkway and yet many people still run/walk in the roadway and Ashland too.
September 16, 2009 at 6:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ksmith says...
mm1967 I normally agree with your posts although this one made me laugh. You have obviously never lived in Savannah. You want to talk about the good ol' boys club try living there. In Savannah its anyone in authority, all the way to the schools. That town is worse than St Joe by far. I think this good ol' boys club is all over this part of Missouri
September 16, 2009 at 6:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyb says...
i agree the law should be enforced everywhere as well. I get off work at a very early hour in the morning and it is still dark some of the walkers and joggers in this town are hard to see because not only do they not stay on the sidewalk they do not dress appropriately. However i do agree with big daddy if they are going to enforce this law the city better get busy fixing ALOT of sidewalks in the town because some are very dangerous.
September 16, 2009 at 6:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
I can agree about people using the sidewalks and that the ordnance should be enforced all over town. However, that STILL doesn't mean that Mr. Jackson didn't deserve his ticket. As for Ms. Spencer, she was TOTALLY in the right, and I support her all the way. Reason? She doesn't have time to deal with cases that are still days or weeks away. As far as I know, she's ALWAYS had the policy that you can discuss your case with her ON YOUR COURT DATE....and not before. I see nothing wrong with that. Mr. Shearin and Mr. Capell have BOTH made the council, and the city leadership, nothing short of a poorly written cartoon. Both ought to be ashamed of themselves. I'd like to see the City Council take a stand, and formally make a statement of displeasure and, perhaps, even "censure" them both....or whatever sort of discipline the Council is capable of dishing out. The City Council has a responsibility to make BOTH of those clowns understand their shennanigans are unwelcome in our town, and won't be tolerated in the future.
September 16, 2009 at 6:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jambreman says...
There is one statement in this article that bothers me: "Tickets are not issued unless the subject states their intent to continue disobeying the law or accuses officers of an offense like racial profiling."
Now, I can see giving a ticket if the person disobey's or threatens to continue doing what they were doing, but they will issue a ticket if officers are accused of an offense? So basically what they are saying is that their officers are perfect and we should dare not accuse them of anything whatsoever? I call BS on that!
I do agree that this has probably gone way too far, but on the other hand, it does seem like it may be a legitimate claim. All 7 tickets for jaywalking that have been given have been in this same area. So, the SJPD is saying that no one else in town jaywalks except for people in midtown? Maybe this is more of an "area profiling" issue. I am interested in finding out what the fine for this particular ticet is.
September 16, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B4Real says...
Yeah this seems to be getting blown out of proportion. Seems like the thing to do when you feel mistreated is to play the race card. The issue with that, much like the Wilson debacle in Washington, is that it is subjective. Let's move on. I will pay the fine if you will drop it. Then after I do that, I am coming by Big Daddy's for a rib sandwich! Actually, I recommend Big Daddy's to all my friends and people visiting St. Joseph. He is a great guy and the food is top notch. Sorry this happened Big Daddy, it seems out of line, but stay on the sidewalk.
September 16, 2009 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Niagra says...
Once again, "all in the midtown" is misleading, making it sound like they are all in this immediate area. Some were down on Sacramento, couple up on North 12, up on Frederick, etc. Of course they want to make it sound like that as it makes the story sound more credible. Does anyone actually believe if some teenager out in Deer Park simply refuses to comply that the cop is going to warn them and let them go on doing it like this guy said he was going to? At some point people have to take responsibility for their own actions, and until society quits accepting that it is ok to play the race card anywhere, anytime, that won't happen.
September 16, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Topshape says...
Big Daddy keep it up. You are getting more Free advertising than anyone in St. Joesph.
September 16, 2009 at 7:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mobluedevil says...
"Tickets are not issued unless the subject states their intent to continue disobeying the law or accuses officers of an offense like racial profiling." Doesn't that last part sound like a personal vendetta? Opinions get you a ticket?
September 16, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
He_who_opines_behind_anonymity says...
mobluedevil,
It simply sounds to me like the Police don't want people to argue with them. Sounds like they expect people to actually COMPLY with their directions.
Why don't all of you bleeding hearts become cops and see what it is actually like to deal with uncooperative people? You might take a different view of things.
September 16, 2009 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
i normally stand behind connally. not in this instance. look at the aggregate of the comments.
"Police Chief Chris Connally admitted the ordinance in question usually results in a warning instead of a citation, but said Mr. Jackson's tone justified the ticket. He maintained that racial profiling was not a factor." since when is TONE a deciding factor in the proper application of the law?
"Tickets are not issued unless the subject states their intent to continue disobeying the law or accuses officers of an offense like racial profiling." so, obviously the people who are being stopped in an Equally Enforced ordinance are completely agreeable, never discuss the issue, and have always moved quiescently to the sidewalk.
""That's a high-crime area with a lot of drug traffic, a lot of open-air crime. If I lived in Midtown and the police saw someone walking in the street in front of my house at night, I'd want them to stop that person and check it out." and the true reason for the Targeted Enforcement ( which NEVER happens here, right?) is to stop people in certain areas of this city and roust their citizens.
yes, this is a problem. the ordinance is not equally enforced. not in a geographic sense, not in the case of an individual's reaction, and certainly not in the case of simple fair play. connally's last statement is telling. he has admitted that the officers did NOT stop JR for walking in the sidewalk..... but to CHECK IT OUT.
this is not a policy which this city can be proud of.
and chief connally, with all due respect, you are wrong. if your department is truly concerned about safety, then PLEASE arrest the couple with two children , one in a srtoller, who daily walk up a busy street in the middle of the lane. oh, and don't say your officers don't notice them, because i have seen two cruisers nearly kill the entire family twice.
September 16, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proudmomof2 says...
As the spouse of a police officer I hear everyday how many people think our force is lazy and "picking" on people. My husband goes to work everyday with a gun strapped to his hip to protect the people of this city. Not because it pays good(it doesn't) or because he is an adrenaline junkie who is on a power trip( if you know him you KNOW that is not the case!)He does it because he wants to make a difference. St Joseph has more crime then the citizens know. We pray everyday he makes it home from another day. Law enforcement is a thankless job and Police officers cant win- if they give a ticket someone is mad, if they don't someone is mad. I wish the people of this town could appreciate the fact the officers do the best they can with what they have. I read these post and become so frustrated as everyone wants to say the officer should have gave a warning. If they blow the opportunity to receive the warning then why is that th officer's fault? When will it be the responsibility of the citizens to uphold the law? When will they start helping the police when they investigate crime instead of hiding behind closed doors or complaining that it is ok for everyone else to be ticketed but not me because my offense was minor? We live in a sad society who does not want to take responsibility for themselves. I know this officer and he is not the type to "profile" or be mean spirited. We hope youa re doing ok jason- good job doing your job!
September 16, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
proudmom, i believe that in this instance the officers involved were wrong. that does not mean this is a sign of non-support for the department. in this instance the treatment for the "crime" ( NOT) was ill considered. police CAN be wrong, because they are as fallible as any other human.
i'd like to know the name of the second officer. clinton?
September 16, 2009 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proudmomof2 says...
Heritage- I never said officers cant be wrong- but in this case I don't feel he was. I simply stated they cant win either way they go. I think these officers are more human than anyone knows or understands. They carry what they see and deal with them always. Any time anyone feels that they can make a better decision then an officer under the circumstances is welcome to apply to the department. I just dont appreciate the obvious finger pointing that is going on in this instance.
September 16, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shockedandamazed says...
Heritage I took the same thing from the article. It is profiling, maybe not racile but environmental. Mr Weston makes a good point in his article, that most criminals don't walk in the middle of the street for everyone to see.
I feel for Mr Jackson. Yes, he may not of been very co-operative, but how friendly are most people at 5am when they are going to work. Then get stopped by the police. He has probably walked down that street for many years.
I'm sure everyone involved is a good guy. Just a bad situation with little patience envolved by all.
September 16, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
momswisher says...
I am just thinking if you're going to ticket for this,which I have to admit I did not know was against the law. It should be done fairly and to all.Maybe a few warnings since others may also not know about this law. BUT all of them, not just some people in some areas, at some time of the day.We have a guy that jogs on Jules between 22 and 29Th,a very busy street. IN the street,not in the middle but neither is he next to the curb.When he runs he is out far enough to go around parked cars,of which there are many, he is towards the middle of the lane and doesn't look.Just expects cars to wait for him I guess.It is a one way street and when he runs east his back is to traffic.When he gets hit he'll blame the driver. He has almost caused several accidents,use the sidewalk.I almost daily have to stop in the lane of traffic for people on Ashland.Again,please use the sidewalks or trails for your safety as well as others..The streets are for vehicles
September 16, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gopguy says...
As stated, "Both sides agree that Mr. Jackson was walking down the middle of the road when he met a police cruiser going the opposite direction at 5 a.m. Sept. 1 in the 500 block of South 20th Street."
The MIDDLE of the road, not the gutter, not near the curb, but the MIDDLE of the road. Why was he in the MIDDLE of the road? Sounds like a justified citation to me.
He may be a 'good guy', but 'good guys' should be ticketed too.
September 16, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
craftymom says...
What about people walking their dogs in the street? They aren't on the sidewalks. Are those people going to be ticketed too?
September 16, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
no quotes in this article from kevin castle who is making an entirely biased assessment of this neighborhood in the video. just because a neighborhood is troubled does not provide the law with an excuse to treat the citizens differently in a wholesale assumption that if it is a high crime area then residents are suspect.
last time i checked, poverty is not a crime.
don't drive home from your late shift on messanie. the police routinely stop drivers on the single basis of their driving in midtown in the wee hours. they have stopped people, given them field sobriety tests, taken their seats out, removed the carpet in the trunk, gone through their ashtrays, and literally thrown the contents of the car out in the street. didn't find anything???? whoops. you pick it up and the police drive off.
September 16, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Andjusticeforall says...
All Mr. Jackson had to do was walk on the sidewalk. If he felt the sidewalk was unsafe, as a citizen, it was his duty to report the condition of the sidewalk to the officers and move on. I wonder if the city will start enforcing the "grass growing in the sidewalk" ordinance now that something like this has occurred? Here we go again!
September 16, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
megafrog says...
There is an old saying that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. This guy was obviously disrespectful to the police and when the officer had a choice to let it slide with a warning or pursue a ticket, he opted for the ticket. If he had told the officer that he didn't know of the law and would not do it again, I am sure the officer would have let it slide.
September 16, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigbob says...
Perhaps this can be worked out with the President over a beer.
September 16, 2009 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
proudmomof2,
If there is more crime in this town then the public knows why is this?What is the department keeping from the community. The public has a right to know. I respect law enforcement offices greatly and have taught my children to do the same and to become law obeying citizens but this ticket was uncalled for when the same thing happens in other areas of town and no tickets are issued there.Sorry but this is just a fact.I have seen several different areas of town this happens in.I am also sure our police dept jas beeter thing to do with their time then write tickt for this minor infraction.You say we have more crime then we know so I am sure this will keep them busy.
September 16, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proudmomof2 says...
I dont think are hiding anything- I just dont see that every case the police work is played out like this. I think that cops dont win either way as someone is always unhappy with whatever they do.
September 16, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Boz44 says...
I am sorry if I am repeating posts but the first few made me laugh at the ignorance so I just had to skip to the bottom and write this. Our judicial system is designed to determine guilt or innocence in the court not out on the street during a confrontation with police. The police officer makes a decision (wrong or right) in a tough situation. Black, white, yellow or green, if you argue with a police officer when he is doing his job you are in the wrong, and will win very few of these arguments. The fact of the matter is that there is an ordinance on the books against walking in the street, Mr. Jackson, for what ever reason was walking in the street, the police officer for what ever reason thought in this case a ticket was in order. Now, the proper thing to do is to let a judge and jury determine if the ticket is valid. This is how the system works and from what I can gather we have the fairest judicial system in the world, let the system work. If you say, yea, but it is racial profiling or what ever, there is a system to take care of officers that abuse their badges, let the system work.
MM I really have to meet you some day, you crack me up. I can see it now, the good ol' boy club (oh, by the way they have a formal meeting ever Wednesday night) were at their weekly meeting and decided to show their power in St Joe and put Mr. Jackson in his place by having the police give him a $10 ticket for walking in the street.
September 16, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jackson5 says...
If I were walking in midtown at night on the sidewalk and I came upon a person coming towards me also walking on the sidewalk, frankly I would immediately take to the street until the person coming towards me had passed, than I would return to the sidewalk.
September 16, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
Lets think about this............
Jackson is walking down the middle of the street at 5AM. Hummmmmm
An officer stops, asks him to walk on the sidewalk. Seems like a reasonable request.
Jackson has two options:
One, he could say, "have a nice day" and stroll over to the sidewalk, or
he could tee off on the officer......"why me"....this is "racial profiling"....."I've been doing it for years"
and, I'm surprised he didn't say "I'm Professor Gates & I know the Mayor".
How can there be any question who is at fault here.......!
September 16, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gocubbies says...
Megafrog, I agree with you. When an officer has a choice, like anyone else, if you are accused of something, or someone wants to argue, your natural reactions are usually a defensive one. It's the officers' job to issue a ticket and enforce the law. It's the courts job to rule on it. I understand how they are having most of these types of incidences are in midtown early in the morning. Where do you think the police are going to patrol most often? Known high crime areas at the times crimes tend to happen. It maybe a poverty area and your right, poverty is not a crime, but crimes tend to follow these areas.
GrannyB, the sidewalks are in bad shape in the midtown area, as well as other areas in town. It's not the city's responsibility to maintain the sidewalks. It's the property owner's responsibility, just as it is there responsibility to maintain and mow the parkways between the street and sidewalk.
September 16, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lamplighter says...
To offer a proactive suggestion, perhaps the police department could run the neighborhood patrols with regular officers. For instance, an officer familiar with Mr. Jackson's neighborhood might have recognized the man and been aware that he walks to work, known that sidewalks are in disrepair/overgrown, and be more observant of anything/anyone out of the ordinary. I would think good community relations are dependent upon good communication and when dealing with sensitive high crime areas an officer familiar with the neighborhood would be an asset.
Maybe the police department already has such a policy in place? This doesn't mean that Mr Jackson was right in walking in the street..but maybe some of the above problem could have been prevented by patrol officers familiar with the neighborhood.
September 16, 2009 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karen says...
ibc, very funny post. proudmomof 2, I commend you and your husband. He's doing the ultimate in service work and I thank you for supporting him in his difficult and demanding duty.
September 16, 2009 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalearch says...
My God people - If Jackson would have kept his mouth shut, moved to the sidewalk till the officers were gone, he could then move back to the middle of the street. Surely he would have been safe on the sidewalk while the officers were there. But no, he had to start whining that he was being "profiled". Typical.
heritage: you're going off the deep end again.
September 16, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
dalearch, i knew you would appear sometime or another. i think you and heritage have something going on the side dont you? oh well, good for you man! why does every time someone get's a ticket they have to get mad at the messenger? we will be on this subject for a week.
September 16, 2009 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mobluedevil says...
HE WHO OPINES: I AM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
September 16, 2009 at 6:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
boz44,
I am glad I entertain you.And if you do not believe there is a good ol boys club in this town you are nuts. I have lived here almost my entire life and I have seen it hard at work for years.I will not even get into it with you.But you never answered mty question on the other post about the computer lab and the art classroom you said if we had given up our teacher lounge and had larger classrooms we could still have those art and computer clases still and I told you we have given up all room and are still at the max per class and I ask you what you had to say to that.By the way I am glad to see that your school did well and I sincerly mean that.
September 16, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Look at mobluedevil post and he/she is in law enforcement and he cannot even follow rules. The NP state post in all caps will be removed.
September 17, 2009 at 4:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
Let's give mobluedevil a ticket for improper use of caps....who knows....perhaps it'll set off another round between Kenny and little Vince....the two little bullies downtown who continually act like the children they are....
September 17, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
This issues seam petty and this could be solved easily unlike the issues we have with our school and if the schools would draw this much attention we could be moving forward instead of where we are today in our schools.
September 17, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Boz44 says...
mm - Computer lab and art room are simply a function of the size of the building not an extra perk. Eugene Field still has the second most students per teacher in the district and as I said before this is the first year in a while Eugene Field has not been number one. You have never once heard me say schools are not overcrowded, what I have tried to stress is that our buildings are out of date, we have not built a new school in 30+ years and that our kids deserve more. A progressive plan to upgrade our facilities is what I am after. I just spent time with executives from a large company that thought about bringing manufacturing operations to St. Joe and they wanted to look at our fire stations, police station and schools. They went away after seeing our facilities with a belief that while the low tax base was nice it would not fund the infrastructure for their business to thrive and their employees to enjoy a good quality of life. Like it or not our facilities are hurting our town because these guys bought land in another state.
Never said there insn't a good ole boy club, of course there is, there is one everywhere, but I don't think it had much to do with the ticket.
September 17, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Boz44,
You are correct these are issues why companys do not wantto locate hear.But the schools we have can be brought up to date at a cheaper vcost and some can be added onto to because they have the room and we can biuld ones were there are none.But to close all of our school and make these school that hold 600 to 700 is not the way to go. Now for the other issues we have in town alot of this does have things to do with the good ol boys club and the fact they do not want our community to grow in one way or the other. You cannot tell me over all of the years our infrastructure could have not been dealt with.The Chamber plays a roll in this as well.To much old money in this town that are not willing to change.I ve seen it for over 30 plus years since I could realize and was old enought to see it.
Now for the ticket my point is we have more crime in town and people wanted and running lose and people being robbed and killed and they should have a lot more to worry about then write a ticket for walking in the street and have you seen those sidewalks. They are not safe to walk on without wanting to break a leg.We have some pretty petty laws on the books that are enforced and some that are not enforced you cannot have it both ways.
September 17, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjzb says...
I think they should look into officer Whilhot! He has a tendency to use him being an officer to his power. Because he is an officer he can call in a "FALSE" complaint and they believe him because he is one of them. Can you believe the police told my son they would Hunt him down if he didn't tell them where he was all because officer Whilhoit said my son drove by his house IN BROAD DAY LIGHT with his music to loud! The police literally came to my house and arrested my son because of the noise ordinance of playing his music to load while driving by officer Whilhoits house... now is that an abuse of power or what??? I am with Mr.Jackson...if it had been most other officers he wouldn't of gotten a ticket! I wonder when internal affairs are going to investigate officer Whilhoit??????
September 17, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
sjzb....
Was your son playing his music too loud...in violation of the noise ordnance? If so, perhaps you should teach your son to obey the law, and to accept the results when you don't.....
Rather than be upset at the police officers who are doing their sworn duty to uphold the law, perhaps people would be BETTER off...OBEYING THE LAW!!
Sheesh.....seems like such a SIMPLE principle, too.....
September 17, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blazer6465 says...
Speaking as a thankful citizen, that I have been warned by the Police on more than one occasion, for walking in the street, improper lane change, and a few other things, I would like to say that the police in town are for the most part fair. Treat them with respect, and they will return the favor. Act like a jerk, and they will flex their muscles. If Big Daddy would have just said ok when he was first approaced by the officer, and moved onto the sidewalk, this would have ended there.
Think about it, walking in the street is just not safe, especially if it is dark. The officer who stopped him was concerned for his welfare, and the reason that they dont write many tickets is because most people have the common sense to say Thank you officer, and comply with the law.
As far as playing the race card, being black has nothing to do with it. White people and other races also get in trouble with the police when they break the law, and then treat the officers with disrespect.
I just have two questions. Were you walking in the street?
Is that against the law?
September 17, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commentb says...
Oh for the love of all that is holy, please shut up about the schools on articles that have nothing to do with the levy!
And frankly, mm, just shut up. Period. Your whining is old and counterproductive. In fact, I am now voting "yes" for anything the schools want.
September 17, 2009 at 6:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
commentb,
I do not think I will be shutting up anytime soon.I have the same right as you and if you do not like to read my post then do not.I think those rights are in the constitution.If you do not like my whinning then do not read just skip my post buddy.
September 17, 2009 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
did apple change her/his name to commentb?????????
September 17, 2009 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Heritage,
This is what I was thinking as well, I also thought that about drbjr as well.
September 17, 2009 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mobluedevil says...
oh look i just just suggested my own post be deleted..hate to tick someone off...oh wait a minute, the NP staff must be slacking on their job if they left the post....my bad
September 17, 2009 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
drbjr,Vote yes and you will get more of the same as we are getting know. This what is wrong with this town people like you that cannot stand anyone else making any waves and asking questions or complaining about the things our board and admin has done.Go ahead and vote yes and I am sure we will continue to get mre of the same mess we are getting now.
September 17, 2009 at 9:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mobluedevil says...
oh, by the way, i know the mayor too
September 17, 2009 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tom1958 says...
Ok, he is saying he cant walk on the sidewalk because they are full of grass and grown over and the city needs to make people fix them or the city needs to fix them and he only got the ticket because he was black. As he sitting in front of the camera complaining, what about that property, it shows him walking and look at all the weeds on the bank he walks past and sitting in front of, now I have been given a letter for weeds on my back bank before and had to cut them and they weren't as bad as the ones behind him, so because I am white do I get to complain to the mayor that they aren't making him cut the weeds like they did me. And what about the bldg where he keeps his cooker, there are weeds and looks like no door on the building where he keeps everything, so where is the health department, who is to say someone couldn't just come in the bldg and do something to the meat or cooker that would make people sick. I know everyone is going to say oh he is such a good guy and his food is wonderful and he is a good businessman. I am also a businessman, but if I break the law and get a ticket I don't run whining to the mayor to get it fixed who say it is because of my race. but in my opinion he should have just went to court like everyone else and talked to them then like other people do.
September 17, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mobluedevil says...
i tried to remember the first time this story broke, but can't...something was said in the original that the mayor called spencer to have it "checked into"....then that all changed when cappell got involved to "asked it to be dropped".....it's blown out of proportion no matter who says what.....fire the mayor, fire the city manager, fire the officer?? who cares anymore?
September 17, 2009 at 9:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
huggies58 says...
For the person complaining about his son because he plays his music too loud going down the street. I would be happy for an officer to be able to come to my street and catch the car that drives down it with the music so loud it rattles the windows at the front of my house. It sounds like to me you are teaching your kids not to be respectful. And Officer Wilholt is a good officer and he has been nice when I have been stopped by him. Now I admit not all officers are and there are some that are hot tempered, but this officer would not have given him a ticket because of his color. Besides I agree it is over with, just go to court and pay your fine, oh wait a minute, they probably wont do anything to you now, since you played the racial card. I am black so maybe next time I get a ticket I will call the mayor and go to the papers so I wont have to pay mine.
September 17, 2009 at 9:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commentb says...
I came here to get away from comments like yours on education--believe me I waste no time reading your comments on the education articles.
When I see "yada yada yada art classroom yada teacher lounge yada larger classrooms" on comments that are SUPPOSED TO BE on an article about a man getting a ticket for walking in the street and possible racial profiling, however, I feel the need to comment. Hence my nick. Follow the rules and confine your comments to the subject at hand.
I assure you, people who want to read your unintelligible diatribe on the School District will come find you on those articles.
September 17, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xcwoman says...
Interestingly...It was quoted that officers never give out tickets unless accused of racial profiling... Uhm, if I was minding my own business, walking down the street with, or without sidewalks, and an officer pulled up next to me or behind me and said whatever was said, and I turned to him and accused him of racial profiling and he issued me a ticket, not a warning, doesn't that just prove the point? OR even better yet, why in the HELL does the police have that 'right' to issue a ticket if I make a statement, "You're racial profiling me". Does that prove or disprove racial profiling? Overall, if there was someone walking down 22nd street at 530 in the morning sure, I'd like the officer to stop and inquire where that person was going, please get off of the street, etc. But, people need to remember that the media likes to construe the facts with its own take on the story. (I say media, and I mean ALL media, ie: newspapers, radio, tv, internet from all over the world...if you have no idea what I'm talking about or think that I'm JUST focusing on our city, flip from CNN to FoxNews some night...you'll hopefully understand what I'm talking about). Don't take everything that you hear, read, or see from ANY type of media as gold. There's always 3 sides to every story.
September 18, 2009 at 3:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjzb says...
Pops ... My point was that of all the felony warrants I see on the buchanan county site...shouldn't the officers better use there time going to those doors and finding those individuals instead of "hunting" down my son for playing his music to loud? Please don't get me wrong...I have a high respect for most of the officers and appreciate them putting their lives on the line...and I do agree that it is annoying to have someone drive by with the music bumping so load your windows rattle however I thought it was ridiulous to come to my house and arrest my son because of it...A ticket yes but to go that far when we have harsher criminals on the loose?
Another issue to address...I did teach my children right from wrong and respect but you have to give respect to get respect! Maybe if labels weren't placed on certain individuals for standing up for what they believe in (and no it isn't breaking the law) even if they are standing alone.
I just have a real problem with the officers being automatically right just because they are officers! If you want the children today to take responsibilites for their actions then our law enforcement should be the first to practice it and lead by example. I don't think I've ever heard and officer say "I'm sorry I could of been mistaken"! Has anyone else...
For the other comment that was made...my sons situation had nothing to do with race!
September 21, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )