Valley resident addresses council on police conduct concerns
BY JOHN BRICE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — In the aftermath of a law enforcement incident that occurred on Dec. 27 of last year, Valley resident Virgil Clark addressed the city council regarding his experience with the police department at their meeting on Monday, May 11.
“On Dec. 27, I was traveling down Fob James Drive, and, as I passed by a flashing light out there near the old Steak and Shake, there were two Valley police officers sitting on the side of the road,” he said. “When I go, by I throw up my hand and I waved at them. I proceed all the way down to the corner there by the gas station. As I turned to go up the hill, I look in my rear view mirror and there is no one behind me. I get to the top of the hill; I am going to the sportsplex to the gym to work out.”
Clark shared the conversation that occurred when he was stopped by the officers.
“I look at my rear view mirror, and I have got two Valley police cars riding me with the lights on. I immediately pull over,” he said. “Officer Simpson approached my vehicle and asked to see my license and proof of insurance. I just asked him, ‘Would you mind telling me why you stopped me?’ He says, ‘The cover that you have on your tag is obstructing your tag.’”
While waiting for further communication from the officers, Clark explained how he became concerned, and, when going to ask for additional information, the situation seriously escalated.
“This thing is really getting drawn out, and I am thinking is there something that has happened to my tag that is obstructing it,” he said. “I get out of my vehicle, I walk to the back of my car and I turn to go directly over to look at my car. At that point Officer Broome exited her vehicle, and she was pretty much out of control. She is yelling and screaming at me. Then she comes up and starts shoving me.”
Clark shared the actions by Officer Broome during his arrest.
“She pulls out a taser and sticks it on me then,” he said. “Again, I am not putting up a fight. I am arrested, put in handcuffs, taken to the police department. Processed and everything, was about to be transported to the county jail when I finally bailed out. My car was towed.”
In addition to $750 in attorney fees, Clark itemized the other expenses he incurred as a result of this situation, even after being found not guilty in court.
“[I paid] $300 for car towing, $185 to bail out,” he said. “While I am there at the police station, she is telling the other officers that she told me to get back in the car. I told her no, it was a very false statement. As I got ready to leave, I asked her what I needed to do to get my car. She said just go to Scott’s Towing which was another false statement. Before I could get my car, I had to go to city hall to pay $50 to get my car released.”
After the situation, Clark requested a total of $1,285 in reimbursement from the city. Chief Stacy Shirey addressed the council and assured them that his officers adhered to the letter of the law when enforcing it during this incident.
In other business
• There was a resolution approved for a funding agreement between the city and the Chambers County Board of Education to provide them with $1.5 million for the construction of a new high school in the event that they did not have adequate resources in their budget to pay for it.
• An ordinance was passed to put up for sale two lots of property owned by the city on 26th Avenue.
