Russellville Follies (or Both Sides Are Bonkers)

If you haven't been keeping track, the City of Russellville has been home to some interesting hijinks the past few weeks. There are some major gaps in what news has so far been released in this ongoing story, but we're attempting to fill in what we can.

First, we take it that most are familiar with the county seat of Franklin County. Russellville is long on Hispanic Indians and short on African-Amerians, but District Four is comprised mainly of the almost segregated area of Reedtown. Recently many black residents have accused the police department of unfair treatment. Chief Chris Hargett has not commented on these accusations, at least publicly. We assume he has more pressing business at the Russellville Housing Authority.

The Russellville police officer involved in this particular brouhaha is Brett Evans. Evans is a 2011 Russellville High graduate who was quite the jock, and is not one to take life overly seriously:

Brett Evans When Not On Duty

We want to stress here that the Russellville council has stated several citizens have complained about Evans, but the, one might say, final straw involved a traffic stop in early November. Patrolman Evans stopped a vehicle without a license plate and then discovered the driver did not have a valid license to operate the car. The driver, we'll name only as Mark, was to be the recipient of at least two tickets and a few hours in jail. He asked Evans if his companion Sharon, who did have a valid driver license, could simply drive the vehicle the few short blocks to his home instead of having the car towed. Evans refused.

Mark then called his friend, Councilman Arthur Elliott:

District Four Councilman Arthur Elliott

Mr. Elliott then asked Evans if Sharon couldn't drive the vehicle home since it was a short distance. Elliott said his rationale was that the impound lot, Eddie Hicks Collision, was located on Highway 24 outside the city limits, and therefore Russellville would make absolutely no money on the $150.00 towing fee, which he theorized Mark would spend in Russellville if he didn't have to pay said fee outside the city.

Now here we have to ask why the City of Russellville uses an impound lot located outside the town? Isn't there one available in Russellville? Does Eddie Hicks get special treatment for some reason? Questions and more questions.

Evans, now speaking on Mark's cell phone to Councilman Elliott, again refused. Here, the story is blacked out, no pun intended, for most of us. Obviously, there was more to this conversation, but at this point we're not privy to what Evans said to the councilman. We can only infer that what was said was not to Elliott's liking. 

On November 6th, Arthur Elliott moved in a council meeting that Patrolman Brett Evans be suspended for 14 days with pay. Councilman Gary Cummings seconded the motion, and the suspension was approved by Mayor David Grissom and the entire council. Several members of the black community were in attendance and voiced concerns about the police's general treatment of African-American citizens. Mayor Grissom announced that the Russellville Police Department would be conducting an internal investigation into the actions alleged against Brett Evans.

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Whew! Let's take a break. Any of you doing anything special tomorrow afternoon?

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At this point, suspended patrol officer Brett Evans must have felt threatened; he hired Florence attorney Tony Hughes to represent him. Hughes is a former Florence police officer who became an attorney after his career tanked with the FPD. Was this why Evans specifically sought him out from two counties away?

Hughes accompanied the gum-popping Evans to the next council meeting on November 20th. The Florence attorney accused Elliott of attempting to get Evans to let Mark go...something Councilman Elliott strongly denies. 

During this meeting, it was revealed that the council had enlisted the help of former ABI detective Darrell Tatum to look into claims of abuse against Evans. The council voted to reinstate Evans, with Elliott abstaining.

Now Tony Hughes says he is going to file ethics charges against Councilman Elliott for overstepping his bounds. We predict the Alabama Ethics Commission will instruct Mr. Elliott to review various rules and regulations concerning what he can and can't do as an elected council member. 

Still, Elliott will be allowed to answer Hughes' allegations in a public comment. Remember comments about what Evans may have said to Elliott or words he may have used were kept in executive session during the council meeting. This may prove interesting...