Award-winning reporter Jerry Mitchell delved into the Ethan Thomas drama in Madison County on the front pages of the Clarion-Ledger this morning. It seems that Constable Matt Shackleford is ensnared in the mess as he might have gotten a little too close to the wife of Mr. Thomas and has an interesting little green plant in his home as well. The Thomases have filed for divorce in Madison County. Mr. Mitchell writes:
This is the story of two Mississippi men — one with a habit of arresting, sometimes under questionable circumstances, and the other with a habit of getting arrested, often under odd circumstances.
Recently, the first one, Madison County Constable Matt Shackelford, testified in the divorce case of the second, Raymond Ethan Thomas.
The odds would seem to be stacked against Thomas, who first lost his wife and then his dogs.
On April 3, Shackelford arrested Thomas for contempt of court after he was alleged to have taken three dogs from his estranged wife, Lindsey, who had a protective order in place....
Months later, Shackelford had Thomas arrested again, alleging he was stalking him — an accusation Thomas denied.
That charge and all the others against Thomas in Madison County have since been dismissed or remanded to files.....
Thomas’ family hired private investigator Richard Brooks in the divorce case to investigate allegations regarding Shackelford because of suspected adultery.
Thomas is fighting the divorce, mainly because of the custody arrangements. He hasn't seen or talked with his 5-year-old son since April.*...
Brooks, a former narcotics officer, said he developed a confidential informant who provided pictures of Shackelford.
According to the report, the informant said Shackelford grew marijuana and that “the aquarium and lights were to ‘cover’ him in the event narcotics agents questioned him about his abnormally high power bill.”
Shackelford denied this claim and denied he used any recreational drugs.
Brooks obtained photographs of Shackelford’s constable car at Pop’s Around the Corner, a south Jackson bar, at 3:25 a.m. on May 3.... Rest of article.
Read the rest of the story as there are many more interesting details reported by Mr. Mitchell.
*Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the child from an earlier marriage?
29 comments:
Madison County seems to have penchant for electing constables/JPs with questionable character. Peeping/filming Toms [Gilmer]; Racists [ Wisenberger] ; Dopers [Shackelford] . They should find better quality under qualified impersonator public officials.
Lots of inuendo, speculation and hyperbole here. Surprised the Kingfish would run with this story without at least a minimal bit of research or inquiry. But, hey...such is the news bidness.
Not sure why this graced the pages of the CL...nothing but speculation to cast doubt on people's reputations. Certainly not news.
It's Jerry Mitchell. Who the heck are you?
It's open season on the police. Once respected they are now put under a microscope and dissected. All police officers should all take their vacation time AT the same time. We would than see how well civilization copes.
Johnny, I think we can agree that it would be preferable to have cops who obey the law.
This is way bigger than most people know. I'm actually shocked than any journalist, other than KF, did an investigative piece. This is the state of see nothing, hear nothing and know nothing when it comes to journalism. I can't tell you how many stories have been given to the press that are slam dunks and they will write nothing until the judges gavel slams down. Good for Jerry M. Now let's not be a one hit wonder. Plenty more stories out there, just have to have the nuts do them.
9:33, one might think that "we" want that, but if the past year's news has shown us nothing else, it's that even when cops are busted red-handed, a large minority (at least) of the public wants to paint that as a "war on cops."
9:56 - Fallacy alert. 'This is bigger than most people know and I know more than I'm saying therefore I'm smarter than all of you'.
What investigative piece are you referring to. No investigation is included in any of this. Only innuendo. Cheap journalism. Take a fistful of rumors and run with it.
We need pictures of the wife.
I don't really consider a constable a LEO. Granted they a badge, carry a gun and serve warrants and various papers but they have zero formal law enforcement training. Shackelfords replacement in the next term is a certified LEO. Now, Three of the four Madison county constables have LEO certifications.
I've heard various people here say the requirements for justice court judges should be changed and they should be attorneys. It should be the same for constables. If they are elected to be a constable they should be required to attend the full MELOTA Training Academy.
6:54 You may not consider a constable a LEO, but the constitution of the State of Mississippi does. Most of the Mississippi constables are honest, hard working, professional law enforcement officers. I can speak about this as a retired 6 term constable and past president of the Mississippi Constable Association, so I believe that I just may know a little more about it than you do.
In 1986 we, the Mississippi Constable Association, lobbied for a change in the law to require the constables to be certified and put them in uniforms and provide for vehicle markings for them. We were successful in our efforts and legislation was passed to do exactly that. The following year a small group of constables (about 20 if I remember correctly) managed to get their legislators to draft and pass a bill to significantly water down those training requirements. So, it was your elected legislators and not the Mississippi constables that changed the training requirements.
Some comments were made about the constable's car being parked at a location in Jackson. Well, so what? For your information the vehicles which the constables drive are their personal property and all fuel, insurance and maintenance are paid for out of their own pockets.
Thank you Kingfish for the opportunity to educate some of these folks.
There really wasn't any investigative work. This piece is not worthy of a reporter with the reputation of Jerry Mitchell.
Since when does a man with a diagnosed mental illness get any credibility??? Sounds to me like Constable Shackelford was doing his job. As far as the marijuana, that's pure speculation and that picture is so bad that you can't tell what kind of tree that is. Very poor journalism with few facts. Speculation is NOT news!
@6:45 - they are not required any formal law enforcement training but many do. They guy that beat the pants off shacleford in the election has over 20 years and ran a swat team.
Constables need to be done away with. Antiquated law.
Charlie, I never said constables were not honest hard and hard working but most are not certified LEOs. I simply stated that the requirements should be changed. If they are going to be elected and expected to enforce the laws of the state of Mississippi in the counties in which they serve, they should attend a full MELOTA session. It is required of sheriff's departments and police departments state wide. Why should constables be any different?
I feel the same about justice court judges. In this day and age a judge should hold a law degree and should have passed the BAR.
"Pure speculation" lol what a joke!! The guy admitted that it was him in the picture and the picture was taken in his house, yet he he has "no idea" what kind of plant it is ha ha!! I sure as hell can tell you about anything growing in my house
Jerry Mitchell has watched both of Shackelford's VIDEOED depositions, which none of you have, so I'd say he knows exactly what he's writing aboutsince he watched it come directly from the horses mouth! or in this case, the jackass
Matt Shackelford was not the arresting officer. Why does anybody read the Clarion Ledger?
Actually Shackelford WAS the arresting officer. If you look at the "official" book in log book at the MCDC it's his hand written, in black and white, Arresting Officer "Matt Shakelford" the charge is "Contempt". Shackelford is the "Affiant" in all the charges previously posted by JJ, meaning HE is the person swearing out these charges.
Jerry Mitchell wrote a piece on something other than Civil Rights? Damn - time to sell out everything and enjoy our few weeks left. World must be coming to an end.
Charlie @ 8:41
You may be, and probably are, completely honest and hard-working. I don't know, because I don't know you. Offhand, I would believe that you are, until proven otherwise.
One thing that stands out that you wrote is, "The following year a small group of constables (about 20 if I remember correctly) managed to get their legislators to draft and pass a bill to significantly water down those training requirements. So, it was your elected legislators and not the Mississippi constables that changed the training requirements."
How can you, with a straight face, blame the legislators for passing a bill that YOU said was pushed by Mississippi constables?
Kind of makes you look like a double-talking past-President of the constable association.
4:54 I did not say the bill to repeal the legislation, which we worked hard to get passed was pushed by the Mississippi constables. I believe you must have overlooked the part about about 20 (a small minority, and you can take that to mean whatever you would like, but we know who they were, a small MINORITY) who talked their minority legislators into pushing their bill. Now read that any way you see fit too, but the truth is the truth.
Oh! and by the way 4:54, if you are going to voice your opinions on things that you have no knowledge of and resort to accusing me of double talking, why not grow a pair and put your name on your comments? I did! :>)
Mr. Tillman; Notwithstanding your anger over the fact that a group of constables dared to deviate from your master plan, you might know that it takes more than a handful of 'minority lawmakers' to pass a bill into law.
The role of Constable in our state has far exceeded the original intent of the position. We might need somebody to serve process (so deputies can do real police work), but we do not need a bunch of testosterone-laced, arrogant, Glock wearing LEO wannabees riding around in black cars with black windows intimidating people and getting off on their perceived power.
What 3:42 AM said ! ! ! ! !
What's worse: A constable impersonating a real law enforcement officer or a blog journalist impersonating a lawyer?
Or a dispatcher impersonating an actual sworn Lieutenant in a police department?
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