Posted on 05/21/2009 10:28:11 AM PDT by abb
Jason Talley and his two traveling companions had no plans of making a stop in Jones County when they were arrested by Jones County Sheriff deputies on May 14. Now Talley and his friends are going to make a planned trip to the area. This time, Talley and other crew members of motorhomediaries.com, are coming to the area to film a documentary. No date has been set for the week-long visit.
“We have been traveling now for six weeks,” Talley said in a phone interview. “We have 60 videos on YouTube that documents our experiences.
“It’s ironic to have these type of problems (like those encountered in Jones County) in our search for freedom in America,” added Talley. “We want to come back and talk to people who may have complaints with the police department and to do some charity work in the area.” Talley, Peter Eyre and Adam Mueller were arrested on I-59 while heading to Meridian for a breakfast meeting with Libertarian Party of Mississippi Chairman Danny Bedwell.
“I had been following their journey,” said Bedwell, who resides in Columbus. “They left Washington six weeks ago, went to Louisiana and stopped in New Orleans for the night. We made contact and they told me they were on their way to Nashville to pick up a friend who would travel with them.
“I asked them to meet me in Meridian because I wanted to make a donation to their cause,” continued Bedwell. “They never did show up.”
The three travel across the country in a recreational vehicle, making stops along the way to interview individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds who share their passion for liberty and justice in America. “I believe we were arrested in Jones County because we were filming what was happening to us,” said Talley. However, Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge said during the traffic stop, deputies gave the three “numerous opportunities to identify themselves but they refused.” According to Talley, who was awakened from his sleep by all of the commotion, Eyre, who was driving the vehicle, complied and provided the information requested by the officers.
“Pete showed his driver’s license and registration,” Talley said. “Adam didn’t have a chance to get any information because he was doing the filming and they arrested him.”
Talley admits to being defiant, mainly because he “was just a passenger.” He said when the deputy asked him to step from the vehicle, he didn’t have any information because he had been sleeping.
Talley also stated that officers stopped their vehicle because it had a “paper tag on it.” But when they checked everything out and found everything was legitimate, instead of letting them go on their way, they continued to press Talley for some type of identification. Once again he refused.
Then came an event Talley will never forget. “The officer placed a choke hold on me and I couldn’t breathe,” he said. “What you basically had was an out-of-control sheriff’s department.”
When all was said and done, Talley, 34, was arrested for disorderly conduct and disobeying a police officer, Eyre, 28, was arrested for possession of beer in a dry county and an unknown offense and Mueller, 26, was arrested for disorderly conduct and disobeying a police officer.
“They wanted to find some reason to justify their actions,” said Talley. “They had no grounds to arrest us.”
He added that a deputy found a sealed can of beer in the refrigerator of the vehicle as they did a search. They decided to charge Eyre for possession and Eyre doesn’t even drink, he said.
“I guess the message to anyone whose driving through Jones County is to stop and throw out all of the beer or liquor you may have in your vehicle, even if its unopened,” said Talley. “You’re driving through a dry county.”
Talley added the trio made bail from donations that were sent in from around the country. They were also able to get their vehicle out of pound. Unfortunately, however, he said that when they checked their video camera, that was left in the vehicle, the footage had been deleted. “We believe someone from the Sheriff’s Department is responsible,” he said. “That was a major injustice.” Hodge has said that he is “proud of our Deputies handling of this traffic stop. I have demonstrated my willingness to admit when we are wrong. However, in this case they handled themselves in a proper and professional manner.”
Talley said the trio is weighing its options. A number of lawyers have contacted them and he is not ruling out the possibility of a lawsuit. In the meantime, he hopes Jones County residents or others who may have complaints against the Jones County Sheriff’s Department will contact him. They can visit www.motorhomediaries.com and click on the e-mail link to contact the crew. “We would love to hear from people who have stories they want to share,” said Talley. “We know there are some good people in Jones County, but I’m afraid this story got out and showed the bad side.
“We also know that there may be others who have experiences similar to ours,” he added. “Things won’t change if people are afraid to take a stand against injustice.”
http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_141102947.html
Crew airs grievance on Fox News
http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_139110004.html
Civil rights violation?
http://motorhomediaries.com/
MHD on Freedom Watch
ping
“Free State of Jones” Mississippi ping
I hope it does get legs...
I, for one, want to see people acting under color of law/office held accountable.
They’ll never forget the day they crossed.....The Macon County Line!
Judge Nappy talked like he might help them in their lawsuits. The way he likes a camera and microphone, it’ll get plenty of air time.
LOL!
I’m wondering if the responses on this thread would change if the 3 were muslims with video cameras.
I’ve been pulled over a few times in my life and have never ever had any problems what so ever. Just be polite, answer the questions honestly and nobody gets choked out. In this case it seems as though you have a load of “I know my rights man” people pushing the buttons of the cops. If dipshit wasn’t sticking a camera into the cops face this would have been over real quick.
I’ve been stopped for speed racing on a state highway, with an open container and still walked away with a warning, and no they didn’t ID everyone in the car or choke anyone out either. Just be poilte, works every time, you wanna smart ass up on a cop? Hope you like taking showers with big hairy men!
Too bad the LEO didn’t smack Jason around a little. Then he would have been...wait for it...patience...
A Talley whacker!
From reading their blog, it sounds like the SO was looking to do a drug stop. The line of questioning was all about trying to get them to admit there were drugs in the motorhome. The fact that they were somewhat unccooperative didn’t help matters, but the cops were going to find a reason to get inside that vehicle no matter what. Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. They pulled me over for a nonexistent traffic violation, tried to find something “in plain sight,” and when they didn’t, tried to get me to say something that would have given them a reason to cuff me and search my vehicle.
If the three were muzzies touring the country with the same aims as this group and were rousted in Mississippi this would have already have been international news. ABCCBSNBCCNNMSNBC and the NYTimeLATimesSFChronicle would have been on site within 24 hours. They would have had squadrons of ACLU lawyers beating down the doors of the Jones County Courthouse.
A clear case of official oppression.
They’ll have a good case.
LOL. A guy drinking and racing on public streets posts as though he has the moral high ground on this group. I don’t care who you are, that’s just funny.
Law enforcement is now only about $$$ collection. They know where the criminals are but unless they have a $$$ upside, arresting and convicting costs more.
“I’ve been pulled over a few times in my life and have never ever had any problems what so ever. Just be polite, answer the questions honestly and nobody gets choked out. In this case it seems as though you have a load of ‘I know my rights man’ people pushing the buttons of the cops. If dipshit wasn’t sticking a camera into the cops face this would have been over real quick”
That’s just the thing. It’s always good to be polite, be it with private citizens or authority figures. But being impolite shouldn’t carry with it the consequence of being physically assaulted or imprisoned. Cops as much as private citizens lack the ability to choke you out if they don’t like the cut of your jib. They’re not allowed to resort to physical force and/or arrest if you pose a threat or fail to comply with legitimate orders. Knowing your rights, man, is important. We need not grant the police powers they don’t by right possess.
Odd. I didn't see any moralizing in his post. What I read was some very good advice about interaction with LEOs. The addition of his personal anecdote illustrates the wisdom of his advice.
LEOs are human. Even if they aren't JBTs, being a flippant jerk sure isn't going to make them treat you BETTER.
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