Charlotte Taylor Wingard has operated a ministry on West Street in Jackson for over thirty years. The Winguard Home Ministry website states:
Wingard Home is
a long term transition home for the homeless and displaced of Jackson,
Mississippi and the surrounding area. We are dedicated to keeping the
family unit intact. Unlike the “shelters,” Wingard Home takes a holistic
approach to solve the problems of homelessness! At the Jackson Campus,
we house married couples and parents with children together as part of
our commitment to the family values that are so much a part of American
life. Our mission is to get men, women, children and families off the
streets, out of the government welfare trap, and working toward
independence and financial stability. We offer our residents
alternatives to gang life and the drug culture, and provide options to
dependence on food stamps and government bail-out programs.
Residents must work, stay clean, and follow other guidelines. Destiny Abrams resides at the Winguard Home. Residents are expected to clean up the common areas and perform other such chores if they are not working on Saturdays. However, all hell broke loose when the 67 year-old Winguard asked Abrams to clean up the library.
Adams became very belligerent with Winguard and her two daughters, Rachel and Rebekah. The two younger women went to the office during the argument. Abrams attempted to follow them into the office but Winguard intercepted her before the doorway of the office. Abrams continued to scream at the women and brutally shoved the 67 year-old woman into the door, knocking her to the ground (1:12). Winguard suffered a minor cut to her head.
The episode of violence continued as Abrams proceeded to throw a table across the room. She approached Winguard again but Rebekah stood in her way. Abrams only retreated when the other daughter, Rachel, emerged from the office with a pistol and pointed it at Abrams. However, Abrams continued her tirade and again attempted to enter the office but a male resident intervened. One of the daughters called JPD for help.
One would think the situation improved once JPD arrived but unfortunately, such was not the case. JPD sent Officer Darius Short to the scene. Remember Officer Short? Flowood police arrested Short last month for smoking dope and displaying a pistol at Liberty Park around kids. Although the media widely reported the arrest, JPD apparently did not suspend the rookie cop.
Despite the video showing the attack on the elderly Winguard, Short did not arrest the 22 year-old Abrams. The Jackson police officer told the Winguard women that if he arrested Abrams, he would also arrest Rachel for pointing the pistol at Abrams even though it was her home and Abrams attacked her elderly mother. Some debate took place but Short remained firm that if he took one to jail, everyone was going to jail. Faced with the threat of imprisonment, the women backed down from pressing charges against Winguard's assailant. Short departed, leaving frustration in his wake.
The ministry called the police again in hopes of arresting Abrams. JPD sent Short back to the scene. Winguard's son, Tim, was present when he arrived. He argued with Short but Short repeated his earlier threats to arrest his sister if they pressed charges against Abrams . Faced with Rachel going to jail, the women refused to press charges due to the threat of Rachel's arrest. Short soon left.
A member of the ministry's board of directors contacted Short's Sergeant. The Sergeant sent another officer. The JPD officer took the report and gave them the information they needed to press charges. He said they will file charges against Adams as well as a complaint against Officer Short this week.
Destiny Abrams no longer resides at Winguard Home Ministry.
Kingfish note: It's probably too much to expect a thug to arrest a thug. Mandy posted this message on Facebook:
I am angry. Point blank, I don’t know when the last time I was THIS angry was! My mother Charlotte Taylor Wingard ...my 67 year old mother... that is trying to run a ministry all by herself while her husband has been in the hospital since August, was just assaulted in her home AND JACKSON POLICE DEPT IN JACKSON, MS DID NOTHING!!! I pulled the footage myself from the cameras and this woman wasn’t even detained! They did not ask if my mom wanted to press charges, they did not even STEP FOOT in the house! COWARDS!! This 22 year old woman was allowed to walk off of the property without so much as a slap on the wrist!! She not only assaulted my mom, she also destroyed private property!! Oh, but I know her name and I have her picture! And then because my sister had to pull a firearm so that this woman wouldn’t hurt our mother anymore than she did, the officer informed us that IF my mom pressed charges that he would arrest my sister for pulling a firearm...IN THEIR OWN HOME!! That would be the JPD intelligence coming out of Officer Short’s mouth, badge #2750.People wonder what is wrong with Jackson?!? THIS IS WHAT’S WRONG! Complete incompetence! My mom and step-father have been in Jackson for 30+ years trying to help people through their ministry and this is what they get in return. .....to the woman who assaulted my mom, little girl, your face and name will most certainly be blasted and JPD had better bet that they will be to! DESTINY ABRAMS, 22 years old!!
25 comments:
Lawyers, please chime in here.
If Destiny Adams had been shot and killed by Rachel Winguard, what legal consequences would Winguard have faced?
In Mississippi, is it a crime to point a deadly weapon at someone unless you are in fear of your life?
As a side note, yes the cop is a shithead, but I think we can all learn something about how to respond in this situation and stay within the law.
1. In Jackson drawing and pointing a firearm is barely an "incident" the cops hardly take it seriously and if no one is shot they would rather just go back to their donuts or just smoke a joint til the shift is over.
2. Most, not all, of the young men being given badges in Jackson were part of the same element they battle each day on the streets. They are not serious about the job they must do. Some, not all.
So a known user of an illegal drug is being provided a firearm by JPD? That seems like a wee bit of a legal liability.
JPD officer and the upper crust in the dept are largely racist. That’s why they did this. Remember officer commander MCGowan. Great cop best cop in jpd and mayor baby lumumba removed him. He was white
The elephant in the room - the Winguards are the white ....but I'm sure that has nothing to do with Officer Short's actions....
1. As a known drug user, under federal law he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
2. Assaulting someone 65 or older is a felony.
3. Use of deadly force is legal to protect oneself from serious bodily injury or death, or that of another person.
4. Why is he still on the job? As a probationary employee he should have been fired for the Rankin Co. arrest.
5. If still on the job, why is he working alone? He should still be with a field training officer (FTO).
6. Oh wait, this is in Jackistan. Never mind.
I call this the Obama effect. All kinds of things wrong with this from a legal and moral stand point. Clear to me, an ordinary Joe that this person should have at least been removed from the property. For safety reasons.....and where in the hell was his back up ?
The cop's a racist.
Just one more indication that Jackson is irreparably broken. It has been, demonstrably, going down hill for the last decade (or more). It has passed the point of redemption, and it cannot be brought back to any semblance of order and productivity. All that can be done at this point is to manage / avoid its crime and prevent its spread to surrounding areas.
Change my mind.
Does Mississippi have laws against brandishing?
Pulling a gun and waving it around as a threat is usually not legal, even if you claim to be sending yourself. The legal argument says "deadly force wasn't needed, since you never fired the weapon."
Pathetic on so many levels
Those writer's attributing the cop's actions to racism are giving him way to much credit. He simply don't give a damn and don't want to be bothered with the paperwork. Black people in Jackson get this treatment all the time. Race hardly a factor.
The bar for JPD has dropped so low that anyone can become a cop. Even a thug that should be in jail himself.
Ahhhhhh the days of WC Dons or The Hill if that was your style. Either way, you could come to town AT NIGHT and enjoy yourself.
I'm kinda surprised by the lack of actual critical commentary on this one. I'm not an officer or an attorney so my opinions are that of a layperson but, I believe the officer could only remove the offender from the premises because the officer did not witness the incident. Again I wasn't there and that's always a factor. Even with video the officer still wasn't present so I think that means the complaintant has to go file charges.
I didn't watch the video so if the person was still there the officer should have removed said person. Officer probably needs a whole lot of customer service training but who knows how to give customer service anymore?
Also one last thing, obviously there is a reason he was returned to work. Do you know that he was smoking drugs or just something you read? I don't think that even this administration would have put him right back on if he failed a drug test. Did he? Just my two cents and not looking for change.
While a good-hearted elderly lady had been assaulted by a thug and a dope smoking Jackson cop took the thug's side ... one local "news" station was running a segment(while fawning all over this mayor) showing up at the opening of a new County Line Road "minority owned" business.
Why was officer not kicked out or on probation for the weed thing. I don’t even care but that still seems like a fireable offense? This whole deal is insane.
City aint too hospitable to these folks
https://www.wapt.com/article/owners-frustrated-after-jackson-homeless-shelter-becomes-target-of-frequent-robberies/35687707
The Wingards are doing great things for people who are facing very hard challenges. It's too bad they are over in Jackistan. They are one of the few charities I give too. It's been awhile, I think I'll slip them something.
Zzzzzz.
Two words regarding this rookie: Brady and Giglio.
A few weeks? on the job and arrested by a neighboring department on drug and firearm charges, and now, this. The guy needs to find another career.
Jackistan PD said...
1. As a known drug user, under federal law he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
2. Assaulting someone 65 or older is a felony.
3. Use of deadly force is legal to protect oneself from serious bodily injury or death, or that of another person.
4. Why is he still on the job? As a probationary employee he should have been fired for the Rankin Co. arrest.
5. If still on the job, why is he working alone? He should still be with a field training officer (FTO).
6. Oh wait, this is in Jackistan. Never mind.
You said it well and must be an LEO. The only thing Jackson can do to turn their city around is VOTE both MAYOR and CHIEF DAVIS out. Until this happens the city will remain lawless unless the Feds take over with Marshal Law. Since their is now a play in motion with the Feds stepping in to arrest maybe that will start if someone turns the whistle on the Mayor.
Pit Panther seems confused about the law of self-defense. Please don’t try giving legal advice.
3:29 PM
Thank God you aren't a lawyer Pitt.
For the Panther
2014 Mississippi Code
Title 97 - CRIMES
Chapter 37 - WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 97-37-19 - Deadly weapons; exhibiting in threatening manner
Universal Citation: MS Code § 97-37-19 (2014)
If any person, having or carrying any dirk, dirk-knife, sword, sword-cane, or any deadly weapon, or other weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited by Section 97-37-1, shall, in the presence of another person, brandish or wield the same in a threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or shall in any manner unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person so offending, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($ 500.00) or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding three (3) months, or both. In prosecutions under this section it shall not be necessary for the affidavit or indictment to aver, nor for the state to prove on the trial, that any gun, pistol, or other firearm was charged, loaded, or in condition to be discharged.
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