SAVE SELMA

I participated in a protest at City Hall, last night. It was the first thing I've ever publicly protested. I held a sign that read, "Fight Apathy: Vote." Among the other messages on signs were, "Need Cops, Not Cameras" and "Save Selma." We were there to oppose a bond issue that would spend a large amount of borrowed money on several trivial items, while ignoring the security issues we have in Selma.

A local journalist covered the event, but misquoted me... ignoring my story about how my truck was stolen and the fact that the police have done nothing. When the hearing was over, one of my fellow protesters chased a gas station robber and helped police apprehend him. At least that made the paper. If we can get it out to the public that the police are having a hard time fighting crime, perhaps we can affect a change in policy and start holding people accountable.

Tickets and No Justice

I was pulled over by the police in Montgomery, yesterday. It took two police vehicles to give me a seatbelt ticket. Maybe I'm missing something, but are seatbelt violators considered armed-and-dangerous now? He informed me, sounding as proud as a child who finally learned to sing the alphabet song, that 'click it or ticket' was now a nationwide law. Meanwhile, across town, a pastor was murdered in his home. What a joke the MPD is. They're almost as bad as the SPD.

I now have been ticketed twice for no-seatbelt. Although I used to wear one religiously, when it became a law, I decided I wouldn't wear one. I don't think it's the job of government to be our parents. It's a dumb law that needs to be repealed.

Still no word from the police on the theft of my truck, even though I gave them all the evidence they need to arrest the suspects. Oh, but they're keeping the streets safe from seatbelt violators. Good job, police!

Here's the Story

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6522122&nav=menu33_3


The LINK to the story my last blog entry was about.

I guess I'm not alone with my police inaction complaint. So far, I've heard MANY stories. I may start a new blog to record and document them.

Calhoun foods was robbed, but when the call went out, there were no police responders. Selma Jewelery was robbed with no police response, even though they had the names and addresses of the criminals. My TRUCK was stolen, with no police action taken against the criminals, although I have their names and photos. A man was robbed at gunpoint in BROAD DAYLIGHT at Wal-Mart with no police response. Another man's car was stolen and CRUSHED before he could get it back, with no response from law enforcement. A restaurant downtown was burglarized, again with no response from the police. A furniture store had over $3000 lost when a criminal wrote a bad check. The police did nothing, although the store had the person's name, address, and got the person to come to police headquarters! It's no wonder Selma is the worst city in the state for crime per capita! The criminals know they can get away with it!

I think this says it all, "...to the mayor and police chief, it's all just talk."

I'm FOR martial law in Selma. Either that, or hold emergency Constable elections to fill all the vacant precinct positions in the county.

Here's the text from the WSFA web page, for archival purposes, just in case the link goes dead:


Is it real or just perception? The idea that crime is out of control is a popular notion in Selma, especially to victims.

One city councilman says it's bad enough, He's taking drastic measures. Councilman Cecil Williams says he'll request the governor to declare marshal law in Selma.

But to the mayor and police chief, it's all just talk.

Selma residents who believe crime is more of a problem point to recent robberies and burglaries at private homes, in parking lots, and at businesses.

"I'm quite frustrated," said business owner Dianne Smitherman.

Smitherman owns Grumble's Alley restaurant, which was burglarized over the weekend for the fourth time in six months.

"They brought some bolt cutters and cut through my iron bars," Smitherman said.

The daughter of Selma's former mayor, Joe Smitherman, Dianne says the police have yet to follow up on any of her cases -- even after she handed over names of potential suspects.

"In January, I provided them with names of people who might have been involved with the burglaries and they have yet to be interviewed, interrogated, or investigated," Smitherman claims.

When we went to talk to police about residents' concerns, the chief wasn't available. He told us by phone that crime statistics are actually down.

Mayor James Perkins, who was also unavailable, released a statement in which he said the Selma murder rate is down and drug collections are up over the last three years.

In regard to the request for marshal law, Perkins told WSFA 12 News, "I feel sorry for Councilman Williamson and I am embarrassed for the people he is supposed to represent."

Williamson said he would mail a letter to the governor Wednesday to officially request a marshal law declaration.

Martial Law in Selma!

I just heard that this was on the news last night:

City councilman Cecil Williamson is going to request from Governor Bob Riley that he declare the City of Selma under a state of martial law, due to the lack of local law enforcement, and corruption thereof.

Now, if he does, that will mean Bob Riley will have to approve it before anything happens. I don't see that happening. It would be VERY bad for Riley. For one, he has a very precarious 'relationship' with Senator Sanders. Declaring martial law in a city in Sanders' district without his approval would be a slap in the senator's face. National Guard troops haven't been in Selma since the riots of 90-91.

Basically, it probably won't happen because of politics. Riley needs the minority vote, and he would damage that with a declaration of martial law in the civil rights icon of Selma. IF he could somehow make it seem as though minorities were being victimized by NOT declaring martial law, AND if he could get Hank Sanders to go along with it, it might happen. But I doubt it. Riley is probably profiteering, albeit not directly, from the crime around here, anyway. That's the way republican/democratic politics work.

Something needs to be done about the rampant victimization of honest, law-abiding citizens of Selma. Forget 'click-it or ticket', how about 'commit a crime, do the time'. I don't understand the public relations slant. The seat-belt law is of questionable constitutionality, anyway. Stealing someone's vehicle in BROAD DAYLIGHT is unquestionably ILLEGAL, but they do nothing about THAT!

Lazy Law

As I stood talking to a friend of mine in a local stereo shop, a couple of harried looking young men entered the store. One of them sounded upset as he asked if my friend knew what the sound ordinance was for Selma. After my buddy explained his take on it, one of the young men explained that he had just been ticketed by city police for a noise violation. He then stated he had a stock stereo system, and it wasn't even turned all the way up. He was upset, and wanted to know his legal standing.

Now, I know that when someone gets in trouble for something, they tend to overstate their innocence. Even if he was exaggerating, the police around here seem to be far more interested in revenue gathering than law enforcement. Police work isn't a BUSINESS... it's a DUTY. When you agree to become an officer of the law, you swear an oath to protect and serve, not to make money and avoid real police work.

Maybe someday we'll get some police reform. Until then, don't go 50 in a 45, or you'll get a ticket. Don't turn your radio up in town; you'll get a ticket. If your vehicle is stolen, you know where it is, and try to call for an officer to help you recover it... you're on your own.

Truck Update

I talked to Det. Neely again yesterday. I called him to find out what was going on with the case against the criminals who stole my truck. This is the first time I've been able to get in touch with him in 2 weeks! He said they had 8 cases going on, and it would probably take a while, but that they're working on it. I don't know if that means they have multiple cases against the suspects, multiple diverse cases against several suspects for different crimes, or exactly what that means. I didn't think to ask at the time. I told him to call me if he thought I could help in any way.

Still Waiting...

I left another message for Det. Neely. No returned call. I haven't heard anything since last Thursday when I called the ABI.

It's not like I'm not trying to give anyone any more work. Nor am I trying to make anyone look bad. I'm on the side of law enforcement. All I'm trying to do is make sure these bad guys don't take any more vehicles. I would think the police would, too.

Every day, on my way home from work when I ride down Jeff Davis Ave., I see another vehicle hooked on the back of some different truck, and parked exactly where my truck was when I found it. I wish I had connections that could look up tag numbers. If I did, I'd call the people to whom those cars are registered, and tell them where their vehicle was taken by the thieves, so they could get theirs before the criminals damage, strip or crush it.

I don't know. I can't figure out why a law enforcement agency wouldn't want to act, or at least let the public know when something like this is taking place!

Truck Update and VT Shootings

I tried calling Det. Neely yesterday. I got his voicemail. I know the wheels of justice sometimes spin slowly, but in this case, I think they could have spun a little more quickly. It's practically open and shut.

I can't assume that nothing is happening, though. I know evidence has to be gathered, and they want the case airtight before an arrest is made... especially in light of the current public opinion of the SPD.

A friend of mine told me he'd have the ABI look into taking prints from the items the thieves moved in my truck. If they decide to do so, I really hope they can lift some. There was a handheld CB in my truck that I KNOW had to have some prints on it.

In other news, the events that occurred at Virginia Tech yesterday both frighten and dismay me. So many young lives cut short. And the people attempting to assign blame... Some saying the police didn't respond quickly enough. Others saying the school should have warned the students sooner. It's terrible enough, what happened, without blaming the people who tried to HELP you. NO one would have been able to stop this guy from doing the damage he did. Even if a text message was sent to all of the students to stay in their class/dorm rooms. He forced his way into the classes, and it was like shooting fish in a barrel. I don't see how staying indoors would have prevented it. He was a crazy man on a mission. The only thing that could have stopped him was a bullet, which he eventually had to administer to himself.

There was a rule passed on the VT campus recently that no student could carry a firearm for protection, even with a concealed carry permit. All students were ordered to give up their weapons, or leave them off campus. If there is any blame, it should be assigned to that rule, which breaks the 2nd amendment. Rules like that only harm the law abiding people... the bad guys are going to sneak them and hide them, anyway.

Maybe it's just the view from where I am, but it really seems our civilization is in a state of digression. In ways, we're technically superior to any humans ever living before. It just seems we don't look out for one another like we once did. It's a very self-centered world, now. I'm not talking about socialism. I'm talking about taking an extra second or two to follow the golden rule.

Update: Suspects Identified!

I finally got in touch with an SPD detective, yesterday! I had begun to give up hope that the Selma PD was going to give me any help, so I called the ABI yesterday afternoon. After all, the first officer I talked to about my truck theft was a State Trooper. The agent was very helpful, although skeptical at first. He told me the SPD was the correct agency, and had jurisdiction, so he would forward my info to them. Within 2 minutes of hanging up the phone with him, Det. Neely, the detective I've been trying to call for a week, called me. In two minutes I had what visits to Police HQ, and numerous phone calls couldn't achieve.

The detective met me within a few minutes, in person, and asked me some questions. I tried to give him a folder I had prepared with all the info, including names. I was hoping he'd take it, because it answered a lot of the repetitive questions he was asking, but he just took the picture of the suspects out of it. He recognized them both. He didn't tell me their names, but I've learned that they are Monroe Lawrence(sp?) and Bo Smith (sp?). I informed him that when I took the picture, they were both intoxicated in public, drinking and driving, had open containers in public, and were identified by eye-witnesses as having stolen and rec'd stolen property. He said he will follow up on it in the morning (which is this morning). Hopefully, I'll hear from him.

If I don't, I've been advised to take my info directly to the circuit clerk, get a warrant signed, and then take my info directly to the DA.

Police Reports

These are the police reports I filed last Thursday. Neither of them indicates that I told the officers that I KNEW who took my truck, and that I knew where they were, although I called the police department MINUTES after the first report to give the info I obtained to the officer, and TOLD the second officer I knew where the thieves were.

I put two comments in parentheses, along with arrows pointing to questions I had about the report.

The black boxes are where I blocked my personal info.
>>CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE<<

Truck Thieves

These are the guys who stole my truck. I don't know who they are, but if anyone does, please let me know.




I took these pictures by simply going back to the place I found my truck. Their blatant disregard for the law was unbelievable and obvious. Besides stealing my truck in broad daylight, they were visibly intoxicated, drinking and driving, as well as drinking openly in public.

Truck Damage

The following pictures are of the damage the thief did to my truck trying to break in:

***CLICK FOR DETAIL***

Rough Weekend

My truck was stolen Thursday, and I had to get it back from some chop-shop. I got a tractor stuck Friday, and had to get it unstuck Saturday. Then, I spent Sunday doing the family thing for Easter. Well, that part wasn't all that bad.

I guess it all started Thursday morning, when the fan belt broke on my truck. I had just gotten off of the 80 bypass leaving Selma, and had almost made it to Craig Field when it happened. I pulled over to the shoulder and parked my truck. A co-worker of my girlfriend saw me pull over, and offered me a ride to the auto parts store. I accepted, but they were all closed. He dropped me off at my house, instead, and I took the Mustang to work. I figured I'd pick up a belt after work and replace it.

That never happened. When I returned to where I parked my truck, there was nothing there. My truck was gone. I immediately called 911. I flagged down a State Trooper, and he sat with me until a few minutes before the City Police arrived. After giving the officer all of my info, I was surprised when he said to come down to the police station Monday to file a report. "Monday?", I asked. He told me there would be an APB or something out for my truck.

While we sat there, I noticed several trucks going by repeatedly, and slowly. I stated to him that it seemed suspicious. He said they were probably just looking because he was a police officer. After he left, I found out he was wrong. I went and asked one of the guys in the trucks I saw passing if he had seen what happened. Guess what? He had!

In that one conversation, I figured out who had stolen my truck, where they had taken it, and even who it was! I tried to call the police to let them know what happened, but, when I called, the dispatcher told me there was no one there to give the information! I was shocked, to say the least. I asked if she could forward me to, or give me the number for someone who could help me, and she got annoyed, and told me the officer would have to call me back! I couldn't believe it.

So, I went on to where I had been told my truck was, and, sure enough, there it was. Seeing it there, the door jimmyed open, my belonging scattered on the seat, was too much. I asked a stander-by who's pick-up was attached to my truck. She pointed inside a roll-up door on an old garage-looking building. I went inside, asking who had stolen my truck. A guy, looking like a deer in headlights, admitted he had done it. Almost immediately he started trying to blame a woman for telling him to do it.

About that time, people starting coming out of the woodwork, including an obese man who started telling me I had to pay to get my truck. That incensed me, and I told them they need to worry about the police, now. I told them I was taking my truck, and I think the dirty-looking, deer-in-the-headlights guy flipped a switch or something, because my truck was no longer hooked to his. I then hopped into my truck, and drove off.

Realizing I was leaving my Mustang, I pulled over about a block down and ran back to the chop-shop. I cranked up the 'Stang and took it down to the radio station a few blocks away, where Jamie hopped in. He then drove the Mustang to my house while I drove the truck home.

There are scratches all on my door jam, and the rubber seal is stabbed where they were trying to get the door open. I don't understand why the police were so non-chalant and slow to act. As far as I know, they haven't even followed up on it. They were SUPPOSED to call me. I haven't heard from them yet. The SPD really let me down on this.

I have pictures of the damage they did to it. I'll attach them later. My laptop locked up this morning, or I would have uploaded them.