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Police Officer Shoots Asst. Fire Chief Inside Courtroom

24 comments

FOLLOWING A STORY LINE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN written in the 19th century, a small-town cop pulled his gun and shot a man who just had his ticket thrown out by a judge.

Jericho, Arkansas, is a tiny, rural town of about 150 souls that sits on a gravel road.  The town hall/courthouse is a small, woodframe building that stands alone alongside a railroad track.  And the Jericho Police Dept. has been under investigation by the state police for several weeks.

On Thursday night the courthouse was packed while the judge heard the monthly traffic cases.  Around 8 pm he threw out every single ticket that the PD had written during the entire month.  This so enraged one of the police officers that he got into an argument with one of the defendants and then pulled out his service revolver and shot the community’s assistant fire chief in the back.  The next day, the judge resigned.

WHBQ-TV Ch. 13 Memphis visited Jericho yesterday and filed this report:
(Note:  Our video news service ClipSyndicate is experiencing some computer problems periodically today, Monday.  If this video does not play, please check back later and try again…..thank you, Firegeezer)

The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office says the Jericho Police Department’s been under investigation for weeks for allegedly writing tickets outside their jurisdiction and for things that are not crimes.  Dep. Sheriff Martin says, “they write a large amount of traffic tickets, that’s one question that arose is are they trying to use this as a funding source of their city.”  He also said that charges against the officer could be filed this week.

Update, Sept. 4:
For an update on the events that have taken place since this report was filed, read our update posting HERE.

Posted by on August 29, 2009 • Filed under: crime
  • Steve

    Typical Arkansas conduct. WHY the heck does a town of 150 have a police department? Hell, I live in a township of 4000, and we only have a part time officer. This kind of action is a major reason why Arkansas is still thought of as the armpit of the country….do I hear bangos playing??

  • Steve

    Typical Arkansas conduct. WHY the heck does a town of 150 have a police department? Hell, I live in a township of 4000, and we only have a part time officer. This kind of action is a major reason why Arkansas is still thought of as the armpit of the country….do I hear bangos playing??

  • http://www.report-on-conditions.blogspot.com/ Joseph Schmoe

    Steve,
    Did you mean bongos, of which I doubt there are many in Arkansas, or did you mean banjos, which are often equated with rural folk music. Ether way, generalizing the actions of one ignorant fool who cannot control himself to the entire state of Arkansas belies either a superiority complex or a rather significant case of ignorance as well.

    I am sure you can find appalling cases of ignorance, stupid behavior and rudeness in any state, mine included. As appalling as I find it, it does guarantee me a job.

  • http://www.report-on-conditions.blogspot.com Joseph Schmoe

    Steve,
    Did you mean bongos, of which I doubt there are many in Arkansas, or did you mean banjos, which are often equated with rural folk music. Ether way, generalizing the actions of one ignorant fool who cannot control himself to the entire state of Arkansas belies either a superiority complex or a rather significant case of ignorance as well.

    I am sure you can find appalling cases of ignorance, stupid behavior and rudeness in any state, mine included. As appalling as I find it, it does guarantee me a job.

  • Jon

    Not sure if Chief BG has seen this so….

    WTF !!!

  • Jon

    Not sure if Chief BG has seen this so….

    WTF !!!

  • Hoffhoshoffer

    Hey Joe Schmoe … That cop is not the only ignorant fool to ever waddle the streets of Arkansas … Bill and Hilliary Clinton are ignorant fools and they lived there also.

  • Hoffhoshoffer

    Hey Joe Schmoe … That cop is not the only ignorant fool to ever waddle the streets of Arkansas … Bill and Hilliary Clinton are ignorant fools and they lived there also.

  • Sean

    “He also said that charges against the officer could be filed this week.”

    Excuse me? You’re telling me the state police didn’t arrest him on the spot and charge him with attempted murder? Just who’s protecting who here?

  • Sean

    “He also said that charges against the officer could be filed this week.”

    Excuse me? You’re telling me the state police didn’t arrest him on the spot and charge him with attempted murder? Just who’s protecting who here?

  • http://www.report-on-conditions.blogspot.com/ Joseph Schmoe

    I can think of many names to call the Clintons, few of them complimentary. Ignorant and fool are not among them.In fact, the Clintons are highly educated, and quite sophisticated.

    The underestimation of people who present a “good ole boy” facade has led to the downfall of many a slickster who has thought he had an intellectual advantage when, in fact, he was holding a knife during a gunfight.

    The purpose of my post was to point out that broad generalizations about the people of Arkansas would be better suited on other forums.

    ’nuff said y’all.

  • http://www.report-on-conditions.blogspot.com Joseph Schmoe

    I can think of many names to call the Clintons, few of them complimentary. Ignorant and fool are not among them.In fact, the Clintons are highly educated, and quite sophisticated.

    The underestimation of people who present a “good ole boy” facade has led to the downfall of many a slickster who has thought he had an intellectual advantage when, in fact, he was holding a knife during a gunfight.

    The purpose of my post was to point out that broad generalizations about the people of Arkansas would be better suited on other forums.

    ’nuff said y’all.

  • Hoffhoshoffer

    Hey Joe Schmoe … I agree with you that generalizations of people based upon they state in which they reside is wrong … I disagree with you about the Clintons: Being educated (having attended college and become book smart) and sophisticated (being arrogant, having lot’s of ill gotten money and rubbing elbows with similiar folks) doesn’t at all preclude these people from being classified as ignorant fools … they fit into that catagory quite nicely.

  • Hoffhoshoffer

    Hey Joe Schmoe … I agree with you that generalizations of people based upon they state in which they reside is wrong … I disagree with you about the Clintons: Being educated (having attended college and become book smart) and sophisticated (being arrogant, having lot’s of ill gotten money and rubbing elbows with similiar folks) doesn’t at all preclude these people from being classified as ignorant fools … they fit into that catagory quite nicely.

  • DaGonz

    This story isn’t about the Clintons.. It’s about a “police officer” opening fire in a crowded courtroom in a hissy fit.

  • DaGonz

    This story isn’t about the Clintons.. It’s about a “police officer” opening fire in a crowded courtroom in a hissy fit.

  • http://www.iacoj.com/ 1835wayne

    How the police officer is not in jail right now, I don’t know………

    Sounds like the corruption in this town is rampant. Ahhh…….ain’t no politics like small town politics!

    I wonder if the judge quit because he felt bad about the shooting, or if he was in the wrong in throwing out ALL of the tickets and knows the spotlight will be on him now??

  • http://www.iacoj.com 1835wayne

    How the police officer is not in jail right now, I don’t know………

    Sounds like the corruption in this town is rampant. Ahhh…….ain’t no politics like small town politics!

    I wonder if the judge quit because he felt bad about the shooting, or if he was in the wrong in throwing out ALL of the tickets and knows the spotlight will be on him now??

  • B. Morgan

    There are a lot of good police out there as well as fire fighters, no matter what community you are in. You call them, they come and fix things and all you need to do is say thanks. And when the city tries to slash service get out and support them. But there are a few bad ones, as this forum has shown. Some push the outer limits of bad behavior. Such as shooting some one or starting arson fires.

    I would hope the state police did cuff the cop and throw him in jail, forever if the law allows. There is just no excuse for this kind of extreme behavior. And the Judge, throwing out the tickets was a wise thing to do but perhaps not healty considering the rouge cops mental state.

    There is more to this story and perhaps “News of the Weird” will run it.

  • B. Morgan

    There are a lot of good police out there as well as fire fighters, no matter what community you are in. You call them, they come and fix things and all you need to do is say thanks. And when the city tries to slash service get out and support them. But there are a few bad ones, as this forum has shown. Some push the outer limits of bad behavior. Such as shooting some one or starting arson fires.

    I would hope the state police did cuff the cop and throw him in jail, forever if the law allows. There is just no excuse for this kind of extreme behavior. And the Judge, throwing out the tickets was a wise thing to do but perhaps not healty considering the rouge cops mental state.

    There is more to this story and perhaps “News of the Weird” will run it.

  • Ralph

    The judge was affarid he`d be next. OR…. ;x That he might be Bill or Hillary`s next cabinet member or maybe say…law partner….

  • Ralph

    The judge was affarid he`d be next. OR…. ;x That he might be Bill or Hillary`s next cabinet member or maybe say…law partner….

  • G Lawrence

    Why they state police, FBI, or some higher agency isn’t investigating and arresting people is beyond all comprehension. I guess the have the situation completely under control.. And why does a town of 150 need a police department in the first place?!?!? Sounds like sycamore center to me. At the very least the officer needs to stand trial for attempted murder.

  • G Lawrence

    Why they state police, FBI, or some higher agency isn’t investigating and arresting people is beyond all comprehension. I guess the have the situation completely under control.. And why does a town of 150 need a police department in the first place?!?!? Sounds like sycamore center to me. At the very least the officer needs to stand trial for attempted murder.