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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Texas Mayor Orders Arrest Of City Councilman For Speaking Against Red Light Cameras |
| 2009-04-15 |
| The mayor of Duncanville, Texas had a member of the city council arrested last Tuesday for speaking out against the use of red light cameras during an official meeting. The incident took place during the discussion of whether the city should spend $59,000 to make street repairs. Mayor David Green recognized Councilman Paul Ford to speak on the contract item. "Thank you," Ford said. "I want to let you know that earlier this evening during briefing, Mayor Green threatened me that if he told me to stop talking and I didn't, he'd have me arrested, and I want to let you know what I told Mayor Green." Green became outraged and shouted, "Mr Ford, you are out of order. You are not recognized Mr Ford. You need to cease right now." While Green yelled, Ford continued his brief statement without stopping. "Unlike those thousands of people who are getting red light camera tickets, I will have the opportunity for a jury trial. It will be a jury of my peers and I will confidently put my fate in their hands. And now I'm going to discuss agenda item number three. I will vote against it, and here's why." Before he had a chance to explain that the city could find the money for those necessary street repairs by cutting the city manager's salary from $179,000 to $160,000 and reducing payments to local chambers of commerce by $40,000, Police Chief Robert Brown grabbed Ford. Ford repeated several times the statement: "Chief Brown, I will not leave voluntarily, but if you believe I am violating the law by discussing this agenda item, I will submit to arrest." Brown did not respond. Mayor Green had the audio of the city council video tape turned off as Brown dragged the councilman out of the chamber. Ford ended up hospitalized from injuries sustained during the arrest. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 We have these cameras in our city. It is an easy cash cow for the city. Some guy shot one of them out a year or so ago. The police frowned on this and he is now going to have to answer for this. I'm not sure how he was caught. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-04-15 23:38 |
| #1 Just twenty minutes from Fort Worth. (Is that Heimlich County?) Interestingly, the city's website shows the April 21st COuncil Meeting as "*CANCELLED*". Wonder why? The local news apparently got on their case about a local couple cited for Red Light cam violations. The city put the videos on their site in response to the news. Must have been a bit of touchy subject. Oh, the city's website has a phone number with an answering service, in case you're concerned about the whereabouts of Mr. Ford. Be cordial. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2009-04-15 19:30 |