Diboll officer involved in controversial traffic stopped resigns

KTRE-TV ^ | 08/03/2010

[B-Chan]

Diboll police officer Grant Jones has resigned amid a flurry of debate surrounding a controversial traffic stop last week.

Jones gave his formal resignation Tuesday afternoon at 2:30. "His resignation was short, and to the point," according to Diboll City Manager Dennis McDuffie.

[...]

Upon hearing of Jones' resignation, [victim] Johnny Hodge said it's good that Jones realized he was wrong and stepped down from his position. The city attorney for Diboll has promised to release the Diboll Police dash cam video on Wednesday.

The stop in question occurred on July 27 as Tracey Lott was driving his friend, Johnny Hodge, to a hospital when he was pursued by Diboll Police into Lufkin city limits. Lott pulled over at the intersection of U.S. 59 and College Street, where Jones used his pistol to shatter the windshield.

Lufkin Police was called as backup and their police dash cam video shows Officer Jones holding the driver, Tracey Lott, in his custody for about 30 minutes.

[...]

McDuffie said Jones' resignation followed an internal investigation into a traffic stop where Jones detained an elderly man during a medical emergency. He said the internal investigation found while Officer Jones did many things right during that traffic stop, "some procedures were not properly followed."

THUG CAM

[TNdandelion]

I’ve been run off the road by a man panicking and driving to get his elderly father to the emergency room so I don’t have much sympathy for do-it-yourself-ambulance-drivers, but this cop was an a$$.

[dusttoyou]

Damn right! Stay the hell out of East Texas. And mighty damn Christian of you to say so.

[B-Chan]

His mom and dad were generous. They endowed a lot of arts-type stuff in Texarkana over the years. HRP, however? All I know is that he graduated (’47) from the same high school as I did, yet our high school has no Perot Band Hall, Perot Stadium, Perot Computer Center, or Perot Scholarship. The only thing in Texarkana named after HRP is a street bridge, and he didn’t even pay for that — the city just named it after him.

It’s not like he owes “dear old Texas High” anything. It’s his money — be can spend it as he likes. For all I know he gives away zillions of bucks a year. Still, if I was the 85th richest man in America, I’d at least hand out some scholarship money around the old alma mater.

But that’s East Texas for you.

B-chan (THS ‘83)

[lonestar]

East Texas is a wasteland. I know — I lived there for fifteen endless years.

Southeast Texas has never been as bad as Northeast TX. Rumor has it that that corner of Texas improved with your departure!

[B-Chan]

I only go there to see my folks. Otherwise, I stay the hell out of East Texas.

[TNdandelion]

Badge lapper contingent? What part of “this cop was an a$$” didn’t you understand? rofl

[dusttoyou]

And we’re happy as larks until you show up.

[DeaconBenjamin]

The only thing in Texarkana named after HRP is a street bridge, and he didn’t even pay for that — the city just named it after him.

He did, however, pay for this, which is named after his parents:

The beautiful restored Perot Theatre, located in downtown Texarkana at 3rd and Main St, has been a landmark since 1924 when it opened as the Saenger Amusement Company's "Gateway to the West" theatre.

Fully restored by the City of Texarkana, TX in 1979-80, the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Native son H. Ross Perot, through the Perot Foundation, contributed much of the restoration costs in memory of his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Ross Perot.

In recognition of this contribution, the Texarkana, TX City Council renamed the building - The Perot Theatre. The theatre annually hosts the Perot Theatre Series, as well as numerous rentals throughout the year. The Perot Theatre is owned by the City of Texarkana, TX and the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council is contracted to program and manage the theatre.

[B-Chan]

I apologize. I was distracted and misread your post. After the reply I re-read it, and I realized my mistake. That’s why I had the AdminMod remove my reply.

Again, I apologize for the error.

[B-Chan]

I used to work at that theater. At the time, we were told that it was funded from his parents’ estate. If HRP did indeed fund the Perot Theater, I’m happy — it’s a beautiful building.

[TNdandelion]

No problem!! Thanks for posting the article.

[DeaconBenjamin]

My daughter has worked there as well, and has appeared in several concerts and programs.

[B-Chan]

Thank you for being understanding.