Jackson Jambalaya

**Exclusive. No reprint of reports without permission from Jackson Jambalaya**

JJ has obtained a copy of both accident reconstruction reports in the Irby case. The first one states JPD officer Christopher Barnhart was the investigator and E. Martin was the officer on the scene. Hinds County Deputy Sheriff Michael Huff took the measurements used in both reports.

There are interesting facts in the reports. Officer Barnhart states "Jackson Police Communications contacted me at my residence, in reference to this collision on February 11, 2009, 2236 hours, at which time my assistance was requested in reconstructing this collision. I went to the scene and I began my investigation." JJ has learned Barnhart was not on call that night and was the least experienced accident reconstruction officer at JPD. The Irby wreck was the first accident reconstruction case for Barnhardt. The question must be asked why JPD went out of its way to assign the case to Officer Barnhart for what it knew would be a high-profile case, when it had more experienced officers available to be utilized first if such a wreck occurred.
Barnhart also admits he was the one who ordered the BAC test for Mrs. Irby. However, Barnhart makes a mistake on page eight of the report. He states Mrs. Irby was guilty of a DUI 1st Offense Refusal in 1997. As JJ pointed out in an earlier post, Mrs. Irby was convicted in a Rankin County Justice Court of the offense BUT was acquitted when it was appealed to County Court in Rankin County and the prosecution dismissed the case. The rest of the report is pretty straightforward as it states his conclusion the speed was 114 mph (no calculations are included although he does state the formula used) and Mrs. Irby's driving caused the wreck.

The measurement data starts on page twelve of the report. It states the data was measured on February 16, 2009, five days after the accident. Deputy Michael Huff measured the scene while JPD officers Barnhart and Joe Cotten were present. Sources have also informed JJ Huff was used because no one at JPD was qualified to use the machine to take the measurements. The report also has no photographs whatsoever of the scene or the marks.

Hinds County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Huff submitted the second report on March 12, 2010. It confirms the left front tire of the Mercedes was missing from the car. It was this tire that was not included in evidence. One can only speculate why JPD did not obtain the tire nor include it in the evidence submitted for the case. Huff states "I then used the critical speed formula to calculate the Irby Mercedes speed to be 70 miles per hour." This was important as the lower speed probably would not support a depraved heart murder charge and explains why the District Attorney indicted Mrs. Irby for Aggravated DUI/Death the day before her guilty plea.

It should be noted Officer Barnhart is currently the subject of some recent controversy. WLBT reported he was recently assigned to the dog pound (that is the dog pound in Jackson, not the dawg pound. Have to spell that out for State fans, you know) after he engaged in unprofessional conduct during the recent visit to Jackson by the First Lady. JJ has also learned (ready for this?), Barnhardt filed an EEOC complaint against the city of Jackson for his transfer to the dog pound. It is safe to say the JPD officer will be the subject of much scrutiny for some time to come.

Copy of reports