The following story appeared above the fold on the front page of the Friday, 25 July 2014 issue of the Tunica Times. The byline is Monica Coleman.
I am entering the entire article in this blog so that I can make more then a few comments about this report. In no way is this a criticism of Ms Coleman's reporting. I'm using her article to correct...well, to say a few words about our infamous Sheriff: K. C. Hamp. My comments are hilighted in yellow.
Begin article
Special judge Joe Brown of Quitman County found Tunica County Administrator Michael L. Thompson guilty of driving with a suspended license Friday in Tunica County Justice Court. Thompson's attorney, Scott Colom of Columbus, said he has already filed a notice of appeal. Good, I'm happy this verdict is going to be appealed.
Tunica County Justice Court Clerk Jennifer Williams said Monday that any appeal would go to Circuit Court and that she was not aware if an appeal had been filed.
"After Mr. Thompson is found not guilty, I will take it to federal court," Colom added. Fantastic!
Colum said Thompson received a speeding ticket in Montgomery County more than a year ago and forgot to pay the ticket but was never issued an arrest warrant. Thompson did not know he was driving with a suspended license, Colom said.
"He got a ticket. He forgot about it," Colom said. "It happens all the time." And this warrants the treatment Mr. Thompson received while in the custody of the Tunica County Sheriff? Remember ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Thompson was in one of Hamp's orange jumpsuits within an hour of his arrest and his picture was on the internet. Don't even try to say this isn't personal. Oh, and Hamp, what about the bond? Think we forgot about that? So, tell us in your own words, Sheriff Hamp, what happened during the night while Mr. Thompson was in your custody? Mr. Thompson's blood pressure went up and he was transported to the hospital in cuffs and shackles in the back of one of your automobiles. What the heck is wrong with you Hamp? You know full well that this County pays $60,000.00 per month for ambulance service and you aren't smart enough to pick up the phone and call for help? Hamp we don't need a Sheriff who can't think on his feet and we are sick of your stupid games. We have problems in this county, big problems. Why don't you put your effort toward solving more crimes?
Colom said he's concerned, however, about the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
"The police admitted on the stand that he knew Mr. Thompson's license was suspended before asking him to take the wheel after the stop," Colom said. "That's classic entrapment." Mr. Thompson was set-up. It has been previously reported that the duputy asked Mr. Thompson to drive because Mr. Wiley appeared sleepy. Yes, this is entrapment.
Thompson was arrested February 12 by local sheriff's deputies and held in county jail for several hours on an alleged outstanding warrant from another county. The court transcript and police report were not available or able to be obtained at the time of this report. There was not any warrant. "Alleged outstanding warrant" my eye. Hamp you know this not to be true.
That alleged outstanding warrant never existed, according to Colom. Colom contends the arrest was Tunica County Sheriff K. C. Hamp's attempt to bring shame upon Thompson. That is exactly right. Hamp was playing another one of his games.
Hamp said this week that he has no personal grievance with Thompson. He said Colom's claims about him are flawed. Hamp, if you believe this to be true, you are either stating something you know not to be true or you are delusional. I'm going to repeat a previous comment so maybe you will start to get the point.
And this warrants the treatment Mr. Thompson received while in the custody of the Tunica County Sheriff? Remember ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Thompson was in one of Hamp's orange jumpsuits within an hour of his arrest and his picture was on the internet. And Sheriff Hamp, what happened during the night while Mr. Thompson was in your custody? Mr. Thompson's blood pressure went up and he was transported to the hospital in cuffs and shackles in the back of one of your automobiles. What the heck is wrong with you Hamp? You know full well that this County pays $60,000.00 per month for ambulance service and you aren't smart enough to pick up the phone and call for help?
If this is the treatment everyone receives in your custody, you need to resign. Would you care to tell the good citizens of Tunica County how many lawsuits have been lodge against the Tunica County Sheriff's Department?
"You can't set up a person that already has a suspended license and a potential warrant," he said. "A copy of the warrant was on file with the Justice Court. It was void after [County Board attorney Ellis] Pittman got involved." A "potential warrant"? What the heck is that? Then the Sheriff goes on to say: "A copy of the warrant was on file with the Justice Court." Seems to me Judge Louise Linzy wrote a letter to the Tunica Times saying that was not true. Louise, if I'm mistaken here, please say so.
"The judge made his findings. He found him guilty after the officer gave testimony," Hamp added. From what is reported in this article..."the police admitted on the stand that he knew Mr. Thompson's license was suspended before asking him to take the wheel after the stop." That's entrapment Hamp, plain and simple.
Tunica County supervisor Henry Nickson, Jr. said he didn't attend the trial but was aware of the verdict. He said the board does not plan to take any action at this time, since an appeal was filed. What? A person gets a traffic ticket and is harrassed by the Sheriff's Department and there is even a hint that something other then an apology will be forthcoming?
"We're letting it work out. He is consulting with his attorney to go through with the matter. We're just waiting to hear from his side and what the Sheriff's Department is going to do," Nickson said. Don't you think the Sheriff's Department has done enough? How about this: Call the Attorney General's department of integrity and make a complaint. How about that?
Tunica County Board of Supervisors President James Dunn said he was not aware that a trial for Thompson had taken place on Friday and that he had no comment. Yeah, me neither.
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