Jackson Jambalaya

INFURIATING.

Seems to be an inordinate number of violent criminals who unsuccessfully attempt to run over police officers in Ridgeland. Interesting that the run over attempts usually occur just prior to someone being killed or seriously injured when they shouldn't be.

That was the same excuse they used recently to shoot at a driver when they missed and hit the passenger. And another shooting in a parking lot where someone was killed. And another high speed chase where a woman was nearly killed.

How many people must die before folks realize there is a problem at Ridgeland PD? Said problem is easy to recognize: it's 60 years old, has a big gut and smells like barbecue.

I'm with both of you.

Shoplifting and an innocent person lost their life? I live very close to where this happened and the only thing I can thing of is what the heck is Ridgeland engaging in a high-speed chase through the Rez for, it must be because of something more serious than shop-lifting. Nope.

BTW, the spin this morning is "he's a two time felon" and they "tried to run over two officers". Bullshit.

Ridgeland PD couldn't wait to engage in a HSP. Why not call Rankin Sheriffs, they actually understand the concept of "Public Safety."

Just wait until the civil suits kick in and settle. What a great use of our tax dollars. Thanks again, RPD. I feel so sorry for the family of the victim. This tragic event could have been avoided.

How about a mini howitzer mounted in the grill of PD cars? There has got to be a way to stop these goons. Regardless of their crime, if they get the idea that nobody will pursue them, it will only escalate.

Kangaroo; do you know for a fact that Rankin S.O. assistance was NOT requested. You do understand the scope of the radio units in those vehicles don't you?

Has anyone heard what was shoplifted or from what store? It could be anything from a case of beer at a gas station to diamonds at a jewelry store. I want to know what they stole that Ridgeland PD thought it necessitated such a chase and putting hundreds of innocent lives at risk.

Jamie Boyle was killed in a pursuit when police pursued for an ATTEMPTED crime...check forging. Other innocent victims have been killed chasing those engaged in property/auto theft. This one was shop lifting. A chase of a teenage car thief down County Line Rd's shopping areas during the Christmas holidays ended in a fatality.

Chases in high traffic areas add to the probability of injuries and fatalities.

Nevertheless, law enforcement and some legislators killed efforts to require training in pursuits. What the family and friends of innocent victims got instead was an increase in charges when a fatality occurred.

And,before anyone tries to make this partisan since we're in an election, Republican and Democrats supported and were against chases. The positions taken were related to the IQ of the legislator and their effort to be informed on the subject not to party affliation.

While it's an improvement that the shoplifter will now be charged with a felony, we've now have enough "chase felons" in prison and associated medical/legal costs to have paid for training of the the police officers who work in highly populated areas and who, therefore, have cornered the market on fatalities.


This guy could be found and arrested later. There are other methods available to catch the criminal such as using unmarked cars to box in those being pursued.

If one looks at the deaths of innocent bystanders in police pursuits, it is extremely rare that the violent, dangerous offender is being pursued. It's the stupid criminal or first time offender being chased.

Movies are not a good source of information but that is what drives the opinion of too many on this subject.

Shadowfax, you watch too many movies. Do YOU know anything about response time?

I heard on the Radio, "we should back off." I believe that was Rankin SO or Reservoir.

Shadow, you really think this was a wise thing to do, a high-speed chase over Spillway through one of the busiest intersections during the time kids are being bused home from school that resulted in the killing of an innocent person?

I'm just not seeing it. Maybe it is my sense of who gives a shit about a shoplifter, especially if they just let them go and called ahead to Rankin with a BOLO rather than a high speed pursuit.

Sad that the audio reveals one voice suggesting the chase be backed off.

Thanks to the voters of Madison County for not making that hiring mistake.

Some of you armchair quarterbacks need to get educated. You ask our police to prevent crimes and catch criminals. When they do what has to be done to accompliush those tasks, you second guess them from the safety of your home; the safety that those same police have provided for you! First of all, this chase was not over shoplifting; it was over an attempt by these thugs to run over a police officer. If Mississippi has such a statute, it would be called attempted murder. What if the shoplifter had shot at the officer? Would your opinion be different? Its the same thing! A deadly weapon is a deadly weapon. The loss of life was tragic, but it was 100% the fault of the thugs; NOT the police who were trying to do their jobs. If society wants to end ALL police pursuits, then pass the legislation. Just happens that the Legislature is in session right now! What would the thugs do if they knew that all they had to do to get away with a violent crime was to run? What would you as a citizen do if the only way police could apprehend criminals was if they just simply gave up? What a fantasy land some live in.

@8:36 Oink! Oink! Get a life. There are so many cops in that part of the Reservoir they could have been there in less than 2 minutes. IMO Rankin is not at fault here, but the shot up steroid monkeys that work in Ridgeland are the one's to blame. Almost ran over 2 officers? I bet they had their guns pulled and were standing in the vehicle's only path out, over a SHOPLIFTER. Before you even start on the whole you don't know what we do crap, I served in the military and know exactly what police do, what they look for, how they evaluate threats, and how the "force continuum" is used. 90 mph across the spillway? That's really protecting and serving. I've driven 90 across the Spillway before, but it damn sure wasn't during the day. Way to protect the public Ridgeland PD.

KK, your description of "spin" and "BS" is correct. The 2-time felon nonsense is irrelevant to the decision whether or not to chase. At the time Jimmy Houston's jack-booted thugs decided to chase this guy, they didn't know his criminal history. They made the decision to chase based on shoplifting, not his history. They didn't find that out until after the fact.

Ridgeland PD is spreading the criminal history so the public won't get quite as pissed about Jimmy's cowboys killing this innocent civilian.

Yippee-ki-aaaa! Hope the adrenaline rush was worth it.

The traffic cops frequenting here certainly are living up to their cowboy mentality.

February 6, 2012 9:51 AM

So you want to have this type of pursuit and killing out of Ridgeland into YOUR neighborhood?

Fool.

10am, the problem with your analysis is that you assume the cops are telling the truth. History tells me that's a dangerous assumption with Ridgeland pd. And look at the numbers. How many attempted run overs has Ridgeland pd had recently? "He tried to run me over" is the new throw-down knife.

Legislators want to pass a law to let the cops stop you while you are looking at your cell phone behind the wheel, but they won't touch making it illegal for cops to shoot a 1 ton vehicle down the highway at 100 miles per hour.

This stuff has got to stop. Cops lie left and right. A swerve slightly toward a cop will be called "he tried to hit me." Whoever heard of anyone trying to hit a Ridgeland cop and not get shot?

As an aside, if the legislature had passed some sort of 'pursuit training law', how many of you armchair lawyers can imagine the ambulance chasers rushing to sue municipalities and counties around the state for attempting to arrest without having attending pursuit training?

Kangaroot; I'm not sure what my suggestion about interlocal radio traffic has to do with movies. Why do you think patrol cars have five to eight antennas on them? While response time in Rankin might not equal the six second response time in Madison or the 30 second time in Ridgeland, I'm still of the opinion that Rankin was aware of the chase. I'll change that opinion when Rankin weighs in.

The Monday morning sausage polishers on here are always poised, aren't they?

Let the throat cutting start. I love to read what people with no sense write. It was an accident, stop blaming everybody. Nobody is ever happy. Dang if you do and dang if you don't. Citizens are going to cut your throat either way. What would you do? What woulnt you do? What would you do different? Nobody knew this was going to happen. Bless the girl and get family. And for all you other fussers if you can do a better job then you get out there and keep the thugs off the street!

Dude. They were talking interlocally. Unlike you, I listened to the recording and heard that they were on a "common" channel. And you didn't suggest anything. Get a freagin' grip. Listen to the damn recording.

I'm beginning to think more and more you are not drinking on Monday mornings, perhaps a martini is in order.

And, WTF are you talking about movies. I never made any comment about movies.

Is it glasses you need, or a drink as suggested?

I can only guess from your commentary that you were posting anonymously prior to your most recent comment.

11:30: "Nobody knew this was going to happen."

Only someone who is mentally retarded or drunk on adrenaline would *not* realize it was going to happen. Certainly Rankin SO realized it. So why didn't the Ridgeland officers? Probably because Rankin SO hires grown-ups as officers, while Ridgeland hires a bunch of immature kids looking for thrills.

These cop-thugs chased a car at over 90 mph toward a very busy intersection in that part of Rankin County, with all those neighborhoods and stores, when people are going to and from church. A crash with a civilian vehicle wasn't a possibility, it was a CERTAINTY.

Kangaroot: Unlike you, I don't post anonymously. Nor do I get my draws all wadded up and post three times in a fit of anger. Is it that others disagree with your assessment that angers you or the fact that it finally occurred to you how stupid your initial post was?

Get yourself a decent scanner. Than you won't have to listen to tapes.

This is a sad day for law enforcment as well as the the family of the desease.

I have been in law enforcement over 15 years and any season officer knows the spillway on Sunday mornings is a very bad place to engage in a high speed chase I happen to be at Pinelake church listening to this unfold on the radio and knew once it got to Grants Ferry it was not go be good.

The traffic from all the people going to church that time of the morning is very heavy not to mention the bike riders and joggers on the bike path and surrounding streets, This should have never happen not to throw stones but RPD supervisor should have call it off after it cross over the Rez and Allow Rez Patrol or RCS to follow up from there I have said for a while now that RPD is suffering from lack of traning and some very internal issues #smh

The bottom line is if RPD would not have done a high speed pursuit the wreck may not have happened and the lady may still be alive. Who in the hell does RPD think they are.

Paula Tierce, who works directly for Gene Magee, chooses which applicants RPD and all other city departments can consider for employment. When a person turns in a application she decides who good enough. I know law officers with several years experience whose applications were never even forwarded to the PD because of personal grudges and other childish reasons. She has repeatedly choosen applicants for consideration that have no experience related to law enforcement. A power mad lady with no knowledge of law enforcement or what makes a good law officer decides who protects Ridgeland. I would love to know what she has on Gene.

Sounds as if she might be a personnel officer or HR manager, doing her job of qualifying applications based on a screening process. But I'm sure she does not make hiring decisions of any department in the city. This story will eventually display as much bad blood as all the crap that generated on here during the Sheriff campaign and subsequent Houston fallout. Lots of angry people employed by the city of Ridgeland it appears, none of which has anything remotely to do with this tragedy.

I suggest everyone open a map and then re-listen to the pursuit while following along on the map. When you consider the distance traveled through the areas traveled and the time of day in LESS THAN 3:30 minutes it is easy to understand that this was an outrageous, reckless and negligent pursuit by Ridgeland PD.

February 6, 2012 10:19 AM has a problem with reading comprehension.

I have scanner. Your excuse?

I care not for the spin that he was a felon, tried to hit a cop,etc. If he was that close, why didn't said cop shoot out his tires. There is NO way you can justify the killing of this lady over a bag of groceries from Kroger. My husband and I came through the intersection soon after the accident and when I later heard what had transpired, I thought of all my friends from my church and others in the area as well as family members who ride and bicycle in that area and I realized that could have been any of us. I am sure that no one will be punished for this because cops stick together but I hope a good attorney will take this case for the children and leave Magee, Houston and Ridgeland penniless.

I think it is you Shallowford that has yet to realize the stupidity of your comments.

It has to do with the immaturity and bad decisions being seen from RPD since she took over. Its not a simple screening process. Shouldn't a police department's command staff be screening and choosing the dept's employees from all the applications they receive, instead of the select few a HR manger likes.

A person can speak four different languages and have a criminal justice degree, but that doesn't mean they should be trusted with a gunand badge.

Ridgeland PD officers don't get paid squat.

You'd be better off working at Nissan.

Maybe that's the reason behind the youthfulness and lack of quality officers in Ridgeland.

All departments in Mississippi need to raise their standards and their pay rates to coincide with bringing in more professional law enforcement personnel.

Sad that the audio reveals one voice suggesting the chase be backed off.

Thanks to the voters of Madison County for not making that hiring mistake.


February 6, 2012 1:27 PM You used a double negative (sad someone actually stood up to the insanity and glad Madison did not hire the inidividual), no reading comprehension problem here, you support this type of behavior.

If it means something else, please enlighten us.

Let's quit the blame game and spend some time praying for the 2 children she left who also have no father figure. I believe they are 13 and 16 years old and now have no mother. BTW - she had been to church and was on the way back to pick up her children.

I think at times there are officers who...abuse their badge. There was no reason for the chase. Call for backup and cut them off. They would have eventually gotten caught.
I have been sitting at the intersection of Lake Harbour and Old Canton, many times, and have had a Ridgeland Police Officer speed by excessively. No lights. No sirens. Just a cop with a big ego, a heavy foot, and a Mike n Ike in his pants. One time one was going so fast it shook my car.
The reason why they act like this is because they can. No one is doing anything about it. No one seems to care- until something like this happens.

"Let's quit the blame game...."

Thanks for the suggestion, but NO. The reason things like this happen is because people want to give officers the benefit of the doubt, so they chalk it up to mere "tragedy" and folks go about their business. We desperately need to continue blaming and blaming and blaming until someone reforms Ridgeland PD. It is a troubled department with a troubled Chief that should have never been re-hired.

I believe in giving officers the benefit of the doubt, but not Ridgeland PD. They are fresh out of mulligans. There have been far too many incidents where people have been killed or injured due to the culture of abuse and lawlessness created by Jimmy Houston.

This is the point where enough becomes enough.

10:00 - you are on the mark. Everybody wants police that will stop crime and put away criminals. But they want to do it from their armchairs and critize when it doesn't all go down correctly. This is a terrible tradegy but what would citizens be saying if everytime there was a 'minor crime' the cops decided it wasn't worth the danger/effort/time/..... to pursue the criminals.

The officer in the chase was a very good officer and experience with over 20 years on the job, also veteran the Irag war and very good guy. You can be sure he hurting like hell. Having said that the chase should have been call off.

4:12PM. I don't care if the officer in the chase was a Commanding General in Iraq. Yesterday this police officer screwed up big time by choosing to chase a car across the spillway and into very high traffic areas of Rankin County. It was a huge mistake, and today two children do not have their Mother. It was poor judgement, and he should resign and do something else.

I bet today the Reservoir Patrol and the Rankin County Sheriff's Dept have both told the Ridgeland Mayor and Ridgeland Police Dept in no uncertain terms stay the hell out from Rankin Co.

The police did NOT screw up (except for not shooting these two). They did what they are paid to do. Is this a story with a tragic ending? Yes.

If we don't want pursuits, don't bitch when the kidnapper who has your child is not chased, or the mofo who shoots your loved ones is let go.

You don't just get the good part in law enforcement. Sometimes it gets nasty.

These officers need a pat on the back. Now, lets see if Mr. Guest can put this sorry bastard in jail forever.

Remember this quote?

"I'm excited to have Chief Houston back where he needs to be so we can move forward and keep Ridgeland as one of the safest places in America."

Grinnin' Gene McGee
September 26, 2011

I don't know about everyone else, but I ain't feeling too safe right about now, Gene.

"The police did NOT screw up (except for not shooting these two). They did what they are paid to do."

No reasonable, unbiased person would view the facts of this case and reach that conclusion.

"These officers need a pat on the back."

And only a sick individual would reach this one.

DVD Commish....

No doubt that there are people who will agree with you that I'm sick. But this isn't about me.

Next time you need the police, don't call 911, call Domino's.

Nothing good came out of this but I promise you Sheriff Bailey is furious today that RPD waited till they had cross over into Rankin before they ask for help. I stay in Cliffview and many of us are highly upset that RPD would chase someone down Spillway Road along the bike path at 90 mph both officers need to be investigate I bet you find more on their behavior

Well I guess the State or Homeland Security will start training MS Law Enforcement Officers. There are 1001 cameras along the roadways, and no one uses them!

5:32 Seriously, you are going to find very, very few people who are going to pat this officer on the back. He made a stupid, stupid decision to chase a car going 90mph through a heavily traveled populated area like it did. Stealing groceries warranteed this? Really? He should have stopped and called for help from the Rankin Co authorities.

615, when I need the police I call Uncle Gaston first.

This isn't about law enforcement in general. I know that if I call Madison pd, Madison SO, rankin, jpd I'm probably going to get some help. I don't have that same confidence in Ridgeland. When a citizen calls 911, he expects cops to show up, not more criminals.

Ridgeland PD has some good officers, but there are so many s--theads you never know if the one you're dealing with is one of the screw ups.

What Jimmy's cowboys did in this case is reckless. They weren't chasing this guy for shoplifting OR ag assault. They were chasing him for the worst crime one can commit in Ridgeland: contempt of cop.

Word is the RPD shift commander gave the order to continue the pursuit #smh

Buckhead, do you happen to know that sorry b--tard's name?

Shoplifting of groceries is the news tonight. I'm with KK on this one. Too close for comfort for me;dad was getting ready to cross this intersection within minutes of the accident.

Shadowfax...the lawsuits are rampant for unreasonable pursuits that result in innocent fatalities. IF there were training, there would be guidelines/standards to defend the pursuit action.

And, those of you equating this with pursuit of a kidnapped child need to GROW UP and watch less TV. This WASN'T a kidnapping and I DARE those defending with " what if" to find ONE example of a MS pursuit that rose to that level.

IF you had training and guidelines, when and when not to pursue would be established. And, YAHOOS, WHEN there are victims in a car being pursued, PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED law enforcement police tries to avoid putting the victims at risk in a high speed chase and do EVERYTHING to avoid it.

There are other methods like the use of helicopters ( even news ones) and slow pursuits and coordinated pursuits and road blocks. READ instead of watch TV .

Hey 5:32--You really believe they need a pat on the back for causing the death of a mother of two? I hate to tell you how stupid and ignorant you sound but how about this--the next time someone steals a candy bar and Ridgeland, hopefully you'll be the one who takes the blunt of a one ton chunk of metal. At least you can tell Jesus you died for something you believe in. Dumbass

Ridgeland PD is full of a bunch of juiced up steroid raging skinheads that weren't smart enough to go to college. Last week one of them gave me a ticket for going 55 in a 45! It was 1130 at night and i was the only one on Rice Rd and this Ridgeland PD sees me, turns around and catches up to me going 90+ mph. I urge all of you to call Ridgeland PD and the mayors office and give them a piece of your mind.

Ridgeland PD:601.856.2121
Mayor's Office-601.856.7113

At the end of the day and in my experience of high-speed pursuits in SO CAL, the officers in these types of pursuits think first of PUBLIC SAFETY, the last thing the trained/experienced officers think about is apprehending a shoplifting thief wielding an auto threatening harm in a crowded parking lot at any cost.

High quality officers, like those in Rankin County are there to Serve and Protect. They get it. They know we are a community and they are responsible for keeping the community safe. In this case, as was said before, I'm sure Rankin has politely asked that the RPD refrain from running criminals out of their town into Rankin all while killing one of our community members.

As to Jimmy Houston's legacy, I can't help but think the past of running roughshod over the community is coming home to roost. There are numerous stories littering the streets, many of which have been reported here. RPD is ripe for Civil RIghts lawsuits galore. It will only take one, then, watch them fall.

It was two bags buggies of groceries folks. Something doesn't wash here. Didn't the policeman have a gun? If the thieves car got near enough to try and run over the him why didn't he just shoot out the tires? Better yet, why didn't he just shoot them when they were trying to run over him?

And to 5:32. Pat on the back? You are an idiot. Bet you would not feel that way if that poor woman was a member of your family or a close friend.

6:46PM Nailed it. If you treat RPD anyway other than god like, they lose their cool. I live in Ridgeland and have witnessed it repeatedly over the years, worse group of thugs around.

Please tell me if the Dept of Justice will take a look at this case to determine the future of the officers involved as well as their supervisor who made the call to pursue? I am all about respecting law enforcement and the tough job they have but honestly, this incident screams for repercussions on RPD officers. I do not "rest easier" knowing that Ridgeland is protected by cops with no more common sense than the ones involved here.

Who remembers Soto?

I think it was a concern for public safety versus busting enough people to get promoted to win awards. Oh, and f-ing up along the way.

Justice Department? Really! Well, maybe if it could be shown that white cops only chase black suspects. But that's not the case, as has been pointed out here by a number of people. Obama has his Justice peons too busy suing states for controlling illegal Mexicans and stomping down Voter I.D. anyway. If we could get Stokes on the ballot for Ridgeland Alderman, somethin' could be did about this.

Whoever made the 'pat on the back' comment, I feel sure, was not implying the officer who was in pursuit deserved a 'pat on the back' for his decision to persue - only that the police in general (in our communities) need a pat on the back rather than constant bitching and put downs from the gallery.

1208am, I remember him. I also remember that Chief Jimmy ROAD Houston failed to arrest soto even though he had a mountain of PC to make the arrest. Instead he allowed soto to quietly slip away to another unsuspecting community.

Message to other officers was clear: there are no consequences for abusing citizens and lying under oath at Ridgeland pd.

Ridgeland PD is out of control because of Jimmy Houston and no one else.

After reading the comments on here, I had all I can stand. First of all Law Enforcement Officers put their lives on the line for us each and everyday for low pay. So we need to remember that. Second of all, I seem to be reading alot of slamming and negativity against Police Chief Jimmy Houston and Mayor McGee. Now, I live in Madison County, not the City of Rigeland nor Madison the City, and from what I have seen, The new Sheriff in Madison County has a lot to be desired. He loses a guy in a standoff. This guy sits in the woods and could have sniped off many officers before they knew what hit them. Then the guy turns himself into burt case after sitting in the house and watches burt outside. Then the new Sheriff jumps out of a vehicle running with a gun aimed at one of his guy's heads. What an idiot. Makes Madison County the laughing stalk of the state. Then you have Chief Mary Hawkins sending Madison P.D. into the City of Ridgeland, without notifying the local authorities, escorting a kid out of Holmes Community College about the Mayor's cat. Come on I am a taxpayer and it has got to get better than this. The Mayor is more worried about her cat that a 7th grader at madison Middle School with a gun. We see who runs that department. Now please do not compare the SO and Madison PD to RPD. They are all different. I do not feel real safe in the County period right about now. Now onto the chase at hand. This can happen and has happened at all of the dept.'s mentioned above and I have seen them with Rankin SO, Pearl P.D. and good old JPD. So please people stop the hate. This is a tragic situation all the way around. The chase according to the news was not because of stolen groceries but because the perpetrator tried assaulting an officer with a vehicle. Now do I agee with the chase? I think that is the question of the day. What would any of us do in that situation. A decision has to be made in a split second. These officers are damned if they do and damned if they don't. But to say that RPD is out of control is just plain ignorance. Should the officer be punished? Well that will all depend on if he followed dept. procedures or not. Is the loss of an innocent life tragic? It surely is and for the family I am truly sorry. But to hate a Chief and a dept. for the act of one seasoned officer, is ignorant. I personally have seen RPD do lots of good in the past and I have seen them make mistakes in the past. But like I mentioned above all dept.'s are prone to mistake making. They are human beings and have to make last minute split decisions. And as you can see with this incident they can have tragic consequences or they can have positive endings. So give it a rest people. I am sure the City of Ridgeland will pay dearly to the family and rightfully so and if the officer violated dept. policy will be properly punished. But lets hold the person guilty who killed this innocent woman. The perpetrator that committed the crime and ran because he had outstanding warrants. Madison County as a whole is just a general mess.

February 7, 2012 9:30 AM

You obviously don't know Soto.

Obviously you don't get the fact that this is not about SOTO.

9:30 am

If you are so unhappy in Madison, move the f out. No one is begging you to stay.

MMMMMM!!!! It looks like a touched a few nerves. Truth hurts.

You touched no nerves. We just choose not to respond to a comment written like "War & Peace" (in terms of verbosity).

I quit reading after the first line.

930am, I don't mean to be rude, but you are a moron.

1. This isn't about Randy Tucker and Madison SO. When Tucker's deputies kill some innocent people, come back and bitch about it. Don't hold your breath, as they typically hire grow ups at Madison SO.

2. The mayor's cat? We're discussing a very dangerous and deadly situation and you bring up the mayor's cat?

3. You are right Madison SO, Madison PD and Ridgeland PD are different. Madison SO and Madison PD have real leaders. Not perfect, but they do a damn good job.

4. Jimmy Houston and Grinnin' Gene McGee are jokes with no punch lines. Are you aware of the multiple shameful incidents in which this this leaderless department has been involved?

4. Split second? Really? The chase covered roughly 15 miles. There were multiple opportunities to show good judgment and maturity. It didn't happen.

5. Stop trying to spin this into something other than just the latest screw-up by the leaderless Ridgeland Police. Now head on back inside and finish your lunch with the Haute Chief and let the smart people talk.

930am, what warrants did the driver have? What were they for?

Did he really have warrants or are you trying to plant the false seed that he was a fugitive in order to detract from or somehow justify the outrageous conduct of Jimmy Houston's thugs?

It's funny how obvious it is that many of these posters couldn't care less about the victim, they just love a chance to jump on Houston and Ridgeland PD. You should be ashamed for using this death to spew your hate.

@February 6, 2012 6:52 PM:
Speed Limit signs do not observe a cut-off time each day. And you admitted to your guilt.

And none of this is about former RPD Officer Soto.

Criteria was met for officers to continue to pursue the suspect outside of the city limits of Ridgeland.

Loss of life is always the last option for law enforcement.

Say what you want about how the officers reacted.... one thing would have stopped this. one little thing. all the suspect had to do,.. was stop fleeing. If officers from RPD would have stopped pursuing at their city limits does that mean the criminals would have immediately slowed to within the posted speed limits and obeyed all traffic control devices?

Rankin County has a Common Law channel for law enforcement use. Madison County does not. RPD officers in the pursuit did advise their communications people to contact Rez/RCSO with a veh desc and reason for pursuing. Also, RPD officers were the FIRST to mention use of stop sticks to quickly and safely end the pursuit.

It's a sad, sad day when an innocent person loses their life at the hands of a law breaker.

You have to step back and look at the complete scenario. If RPD had stopped their efforts to pursue at the municipal limits of ridgeland and RCSO?Rez had pick up the pursuit then this tragedy would still most likely have occurred.

As for the reason to start the whole ordeal.....
Judging by radio traffic from RPD, Rez and RCSO the driver of the vehilce displayed wanton disregard for life and safety during the pursuit. Based on this and the fact that the officer that started to pursue is a 20+ year veteran and NOT a "juiced up steroid raging skinhead" I would have to say the suspect must have tried to harm the officer. As one commento put it... a weapon is a weapon. Car or bullet..both are deadly.

Prayers for the family of this lady and for the officers involved in this tragedy are what are needed now.

It's funny how obvious it is that many of these posters couldn't care less ...

Reminds me of all the times readers here were told by anonymous souls such as yourself to move along because Soto was a supposedly a non-story.

Amen 12:00. HATE HATE HATE that is all I see. And 9:30 a.m. hit the nail on the head. Maybe not quite as long as WAR AND PEACE but quite accurate. Sounds like so me someone has some anger issues.

Just came through the intersection of Castle Woods/Lakeland/Grants Ferry. it is all blocked off by MHP and Flowood PD.

February 6, 2012 9:38 PM-

Are you really griping about them writing you a ticket? You were speeding. It doesn't matter how fast you were going- you were going OVER the posted speed limit. So, how can you bitch about anything when you were speeding?
So stupid.

Imagine that she was your Mother, daughter, sister......and then post your feelings!

They were wrong, but two wrongs do not make a right!
She's dead and for what, possibly some beef and can goods SMH

blah! blah! blah! blame the frappin CROOKS you dimwits!

2:52, we are.

I agree February 7, 2012 1:11 PM, that 9:30 AM does have some serious anger issues.

9:30 Two or three sentences of your long with no paragraphs post for enough for me. I don't live in Madison County, and I surely don't care what they do there. If the police want to chase people in their cars, on horses, or on foot, I could care less what they do. However, I do care about an over-hyped Ridgeland city cop leaving Ridgeland and coming over to Rankin County going 90+ MPH chasing two people through a highly populated area of Rankin County. That lady who was killed could have easily been one of my family. This policeman had no business in Rankin Co. He should have stopped and asked the Rankin Co Sheriff, Reservoir Patrol, and Flowood Police for assistance. I hope the family of the deceased already has a lawyer, and I hope they sue this policeman and the City of Ridgeland for millions. They deserve it and more, too.

Ask the Fowler buick family and WLBT weatherman Law family about this.

I have seen RPD beat someone bloody who got out with their hands up. They then told me when I screamed that they were going to kill him,"shut up bitch or we wil do it to you", cuffed me and threw me on the ground face first. The offense? Speeding and allegedly running from them. I had serious bruises for days and the driver had to be stitched up from his face being banged onto the hood of his car. True story. 20 years ago. Nothing has changed. Jack booted thugs.

God bless you all... How can you guys honestly sit here and profit from the loss of life from this young lady?

Profit? Huh? We are mourning in this community and angry another of our community members has lost their freedom, life or liberty.

It would be no different if it were you. Ridgeland is not responsible with their own community's interests and they chose to bring their irresponsibility across about a five mile stretch to Rankin at over 90MPH during the middle of a Sunday afternoon, with no request for break off and assist, but rather, "we are coming, we are in pursuit, be damned the fact we don't recognize Church was letting out on Spillway."

Take your pious attitude and go pray at Lakeside with the rest of us. We all need it to support the loss of this woman while we try to sort out what, why, how.

Drove through Ridgeland today, coming from Rankin. Didn't see one RPD, not ONE.

Commish: Neither is this all about YOU and your childish reaction to whatever Chief Houston might have done to get your panties in a wad. Obviously you have a high level of anger toward the man.

My guess is at some time he failed to show you the full measure of respect and deference you think you deserve as an exalted attorney. For even the minimally astute, it's fairly easy to read between the lines of your comments.

It's too late to 'back off' on this police pursuit but it ain't too late for you to back off your cheap shots at Houston.

Houston's atrocious deficiencies as a chief were detailed at length during the sheriff's election. As so many have pointed out, read the archives here before joining the discussion (or, worse yet, trying to stifle the discussion among the informed).

For those that defend the RPD: just how many deaths of innocent bystanders are acceptable to send a message to shoplifters? At the very least, can thre RPD confine their Reckless Indifference to Human Life (look it up in the law books) to within the city limits?

People this is NOT about personalities or politics or a general respect for law enforcement or about the anecdotal experiences some of you have to tell.

This is about professionalism in law enforcement in MS and insisting those who " serve and protect" use the BEST tools and techniques and training we can realistically make available to them to do their job.

It is important not just to the safety of the public but also the safety of law enforcement that they are not using outdated, archaic tools and procedures.

THAT yet another innocent bystander to a pursuit was killed , THAT a property/non-violent crime triggered the pursuit, THAT the pursuit continued into a high traffic area and THAT the decision to pursue/continue to pursue in those circumstances is NOT considered professional law enforcement practice HARDLY ANYWHERE ANYMORE should be the focus of the discussion!

We lost a great person in Rankin County due to careless thinking by a so called 20 year veteran, that had one thing on his mind let me catch and beat this worthless black man. But he and his partner cost the family and the community a productive mother, social worker,church leader and friend, so his 20 years do not amount to nothing today he should go home and retire and ask God why

Shintflint,

You know not what you say. Not only the archives are a source for the issues within Ridgeland that have existed for years, but many of us here have had circumstances that lead us to a not so high opinion of Houston. I'm not bashing the guy, I'm just saying, some of his actions and de facto the actions of his employees lead one to question the kind of conclusion you reach.

There are more than Curt that hold a worse opinion of Houston.

Shadowfax, you obviously don't know me. I've long held the opinion that being a lawyer doesn't entitle one to s--t.

Houston has never personally done anything to me. My assessment of his performance is based on undisputed evidence of his defeciencies. Deficiencies that endanger not only the public, but also every honest and decent officer at Ridgeland PD.

KK and 743 both nailed it. The thing that's most baffling is that the City of Ridgeland had a golden opportunity to move forward after the Sheriff's election. They had an interim chief whose integrity and judgment, to my knowledge, has never been questioned.

Even though the City had a mountain of evidence that warned against it, they inexplicably rehired Houston. Right after the election, Grinnin' Gene McGee was on wlbt gushing like a schoolgirl at the prospect of bringing Houston back.

It just makes no sense.

The most money that con be sued from a government in this state in capped at 500,000. Ridgeland is probably going to try to settle. Its a bad situation all the way around someones dead over a vehicle pursuit. But you can blame the officer but when does one blame the suspect he hit the vegicle not the officer he attempted to flee , the only person who knows all the facts to this incident is the initiating officer. This is a tragedy yes and it could have been avoided but if you have never been in law enforcement life and death decisions have to be made in a split second and it is easy to Monday morning quarterback any situation.

Kangaroot 10:29; I assume you are talking to me when you post to shintflint. Very cutesy of you. There you go again with your archives bullshit admonition. And your shameless suckup to curry favor with the exalted one (attack-dog lawyer with attitude) and hiding amongst the shrubs with your (many of us here) comment fall flat.

Lawyer Commish obviously has personal issues with Houston totally unrelated to this discussion and he's found yet another forum for voicing them (as if the lengthy election-fray threads were not enough of a platform for him).

This really is not about the sheriff's election or Jimmy Houston or who holds which opinion of a man not involved in the incident. An investigation is ongoing and if one or more officers are cited as negligent, that will roll out and take its course, regardless of your or Curt's opinion of Houston or why you have it (see the archives).

Shadow, you have no clue what I know about the abuses by Ridgeland PD and Houston. You have no clue. And it is not just one incident.

I assure you the abuse of power I am privy to is based in the horrible experiences and the ruining of a young person's life, because, you know, it can be done.

Tell the parents who are still trying to save their child, it's not personal. Tell them, you don't understand, it's just the law. Then, curry your ignorance and admit, you don't know shit.

Funny, I don't remember anyone giving Curt Crowley grief when he was ready to use deadly force on an unarmed (fork) homeless man who committed a non-violent felony property crime by entering his office after hours without authorization. What is the difference? Like the police, he didn't know the man was a convicted felon until after the face, yet he was ready to shoot him.

Curt Croqley was protecting his property and within the Castle Doctrine

Keep trying. #fail The Bugle is calling you.

Is it just me or do others notice how often the Kaptain talks about to his personal knowledge, what he learned in California or, how privy he is and 'what I know that you don't know'? What's up with that? Might want to change the handle to Maxwell Smartt.

It's you.

2:45pm Please read the FBI's formal report on police pursuits.

It is BECAUSE police officers make split second decisions that they need training upon which to rely.

This isn't just one man's failure to act in a professional manner, it's a systemic failure of law enforcement in Mississippi to continue to ignore professional standards when it comes to police pursuits. The willingness to remain ignorant at the expense of innocent human life is unacceptable.

And, the blame game is a distraction. What should be done is known. This is neither difficult or unreasonably time consuming. It's a matter of EDUCATION and TRAINING and copying good policy statements which are ALREADY in place in countless other cities and municipalities. No one has to reinvent the wheel here.

Unless you have any experience working as a police officer you should really hide your ignorance in suggesting ways to stop crime or criminals. Your suggestions, based on what you "think" you know, are just plain stupid. The public will never be satisfied with how the police handle any situation. The pursuit ended with the absolute worst outcome and I hope that we all pray for her family. Was it right to begin or continue the pursuit? NONE of us on here were there so what basis do you have to decide what happened and didn't happen? I have seen that some don't believe that the bad guy in this case tried to run over an officer but, again, they were not there. If the officers were never in any danger then they should suffer whatever punishment can be delivered. I find it very interesting how so many can do a cops job better than the cops. YOU put on a badge and try it out for a while, then post a comment about how to stop crimes and apprehend criminals.

Rankin county can take care of our problems. Ridgeland and Hinds need to keep their law beaking trash out of our county. Atleast our Mayors and law enforcement dont have to look for the Mayor's cats. That was plain out ludicrous. Queen Mary has been in office TOOOOOOOOO long.

I realize this is old news now, but I can testify just what jerks RPD officers can be. I worked with one who thinks he is king of the police world. Oh wow, he is a RPD dispatcher and also head of security at St. Catherines Village. He was quick and very cruel in firing St. Catherines original security staff so he could hire all his "good ol boys" from RPD and Madison PD. He is the most hateful racist white man I have EVER met. Thinks he is untouchable, carries a gun on his lower leg while on St. Catherines property. Oh, he is so proud that he violates St. Dominics / St. Cathrines rules, if you ask him about his hidden gun, he will pull it out and stick it in your face. Hope you do that again to me someday Ken Gill, you dirtbag. Two can play at that game.