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.”
HA!!!
Well as I said abb, as long as [it] keeps everyone honest I'm all for it.
"Sounds like a plan."
Yes it does, and a very good plan at that.
I certainly hope the LEOs on this board, and they're here -- all kinds, are reading this so they may spread the word to their pals the jig's up.
OTOH I'd tell all LEOs what they've been telling me for most of my adult life: A legit & honest cop has nothing to worry about. :^)
Exactly. If they’ve nothing to hide, they needn’t worry.
And think of the multiplier effect! As the network ramps up, the cops will never know which vehicles are camera equipped ornot. They will have to assume they ALL are potential Citizen Patrol units.
lol...very good.
BWWWWWWHAAAAAA!!!
Why abb, you ol' fox.
It's enough to make a guy paranoid. :o)
And how long would it be before the Citizen Patrols have enough units to keep a continuous watch on ALL traffic cops 24/7?
Jones county has the largest mullato population in the state and many are named Moffat or Knight...these were real couplings (marriage wasn’t legal then for them)...not slave quarters liasions
a very interesing history there during the troubles in the 1860s
a number of books on it...some scorn the rebel-rebels, some flatter the notion...it wasn’t really that simple
lots of local feuds and just ruffianism
anyhow....I still remember the Masonite violence in Laurel as a boy on TV....can be a tough county and local politics there always had a rep of corruption..
the fact Jones is dry is laughable
I’ve done work in the Masonite plant. Interesting company history of how the product was invented.
In my day they were looking for long hair and dope....both of which I usually had from 71-81.
I got let off all the time as a kid....I had cops in Oxford drive me to my apartment and park my motorcycle after I tottered over on it with my gal on the back...her with helmet...on the square leaving the Abbey Irish Rose...summer school. The Gin was my choice during regular semester.
had a Nam vet returnee cop take my ganja once on lakeland drive Jackson MS in 1973 and tell me thank you very much....I was very grateful.
it was different times then....and us and them mentality and so silly really looking back...
I drive a big lifted F250 tricked out and in posh parts of lib Nashville I drive through they pull me over all the time thinking I'm drinking (I don't) or I don't live there and am up to something. Big white man in big truck...surely he's from out in the counties (will be in two weeks) and up to something.
but they let me go speeding a lot...80% of the time...it drives my Supercharged Z06 driving little brother mad....
Alabama trooper got me on I65 near Athens two weeks ago....first real tickets in 5-6 pullovers....tall lanky boy very polite...but I was driving my mom's (RIP) E320
oh well, it helps to be polite to them though I've tussled with them too but when you do then be prepared to reap a windfall...as they say....make sure yer mouth ain't written a check yer ass can't cash
btw....my Blonde wife drives a Soccer mommy 1999 Land Cruiser or occasionally her automatic 2001 997 Cabriolet...she never gets a ticket except from dykes...life ain't fair
oldest daughter in her Mini...same thing...if the looks don't do it then bring on the eye showers baby...women and their tricks...God love em.
something tells me this gang may have gotten the story they were looking for
Warren Hood was a friiend of my grandfathers and well respected in Jackson...philanthropy.
His home was a movie set in Grisham’s The Chamber I think
I lived a few blocks away in a much more modest ranch style in the 70s.
Not sure if he’s still alive...all my kin are down there in Madisn, Clinton, Brandon...one holdout on Old Canton in Jackson.
but I’m up here now in Music City...12 years....hard to believe..me for 12 years in one place
only other place I spent that much time was in West Jackson in a hood off Clinton Blvd behind Mynelle Gardens which is now series goblin country
not far from much younger Yudan...for the record...his daddy was my Little League coach..and a fine man btw who come to think of it....when he was a detective and I was around 12 and had shot out some street lights with my pellet gun, he came around and put the fear of God in me nicely...they could have arrested me and put me in Oakley or French Camp if I got lucky..so...his dad was an example to me of good treatment from a lawman....i put that Benjamnen pellet rifle in my closet for a year after that
FR ala Mississippi is a small world isn’t it?
If I had to live anywhere else besides my native North Louisiana it would be Mississippi or Alabama. I’ve done business with folks from both states for twenty years.
As a Nashvillian ...soon to be a Williamson Countian
I do miss the Deep South...Cotton States
it’s just different...even my Murfreesboro native wife prefers the folks down there...
and the women are a bit prettier...softer featured
when I see moss on the trees I know I’m home...
if I ever retired...very unlikley with so many children and ambitions ...I would probably choose Point Clear Alabama
I may have mentioned this before but we had a camp at Lake Bruin in Tensas parish for 40 years...by the antebellum d’Aubusson place....Botany Bay.....near the old ferry
A good friend of mine used to live up the road at Quimby. Been through that area quite a bit.
“So you’re saying we’ve got the right to be a$$ holes? Maybe we do, but it’s not that important to me to prove it to a cop.”
What I’m saying is that we have the right not to be assualted and/or imprisoned for being assholes. Whether or not it’s important for you to prove it is immaterial. One is a matter of law, the other of manners.
The people that pull these sort of shenanigans with he cops are kind of like people who go into a restaurant with the purpose of finding fault so they can get a free meal.
So what? Fault is fault. All restaurants have them, surely, but just because they can’t be perfect doesn’t mean everyone should willingly pay for substandard food/service.
Throwing yourself at the mercy of law enforcement may work occasionally ...
A few questions about your incident:
Did this occur in 1973?
Are you yourself a member of law enforcement or a local, state or federal employee?
I ask because this event you describe does not reflect reality in most areas ... Do elaborate.
I grew up visiting my aunt and cousins in Laurel.
It’s a rough place, though they had some very cute guys to date. ;o)
Happy moving day, wardaddy.
thank you...June 10th....now two reasons to celebrate that day....my emancipation from liblalaland Davidson county ..lol
Speed racing amounts to trying to beat someone from one place to another, the “speed” part is partly irrelevant, as I was never over the speed limit( damn close tho’)it’s the “racing” part that cheeses them off. My brother went one way around the block, I went the other and tried to beat him to the store. It just happened that my route went down the highway not across it, so “speed racing on a state highway”.
Uh huh, and that time for sure! I’ve been driving for over 20 years. No speeding, drunk, wrecks (that were my fault) or even parking tickets.
Throwing myself at the mercy of the cops sounds like a chick thing. I just talk to them straight, they appreciate that as having to deal with smart-asses and people who are obviously lying to them surely gets old. It happened in 2004, and in my small hometown (I was back visiting) so yeah the cops all know us. I don’t typically ‘f’ around with a beer in my car. It was a warm summer night and I was goofing around trying to beat my brother to the store, that is all.
I also think having a carry permit helps as they know I have already been thru the Fed. State, and County checks and came back clean.
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