Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Terri Matthews informed Observations that she was bodily removed from the regular meeting of the Robeline Village Council last week. She said Chief of Police Shelby Borders and Officer Tommy Fathering each took an arm, picked her up somewhat, and walked her out of the meeting.  She said Borders came to her at first and said, “Terri, you need to leave right now.”  And she reported, “He started bumping me with his stomach.”

“I said, ‘Y’all are taking me out of here because I asked for records,’ and they just laughed,” she recounted.

Matthews ran for Chief of Police in last year’s election, but she didn’t get far.  She has been a thorn in the side of the Village administration for years.

In beginning her story, she said when the new administration took over in January, she started attending every meeting.  She said she has asked about the Village payroll, but “they keep putting me off.”

“Did you make an official request?” Observations asked her, and she said she had not.

At the meeting, Matthews said former Council Member and also-ran candidate for Mayor Pam Jennings kept interrupting her as she attempted to address the council.  “She called me a bony ass,” Matthews said.

Continuing, she stated, “I told Mayor Gordon O’Con he needed to learn how to conduct a meeting.  I should have been given two minutes to speak without interruption.  He told me I didn’t need to tell people to shut up, and I told him those were his words, not mine.”  She said Pam took her shoes off and said she was “’gonna slap me up ‘side the head with one.’  I wish we could meet in an alleyway, just me and her.  I’d show her just how boney I am.”

“All I have done each month is ask for a breakdown on the payroll,” Matthews continued.  “[I have been] quoted several different amounts as to what the total payroll is each month.  I do not expect the parish or state to do anything because they are getting a portion of the tickets issued in this little speed trap town of about 100 or so.”

She said she was on the agenda to speak at the April meeting at which she had planned to make a formal request for the records, but an emergency came up and she was unable to attend.

Matthews said Jennifer Shay, whom she identified as lead attorney for the state Legislative Auditor, told her that the action taken to remove her from last week’s meeting was criminal, and Matthews said Shay advised her to file charges.  She said District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington would not answer nor return her phone calls.  When she contacted Observations Monday afternoon, she was waiting on Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright to call her back.

As predicted by Observations some weeks ago, the Sabine Parish Police Jury last Wednesday appointed Ronny Bison to fill the unexpired term of Jeff “Gilligan” Davidson in the Dist. 5 Jury seat.  Davidson was removed from office by a recall election led by Sabine Citizens for Better Roads headed by Pat Scarborough.

Ronny is a former member of the Jury.  Last election he ran for Sabine Tax Assessor.

Scarborough has announced that he will seek the Dist. 5 seat.  We bet Ronny will also be in the race.

Ronny was in luck: we hear that as soon as he was appointed, a list of the committees was read aloud, and he was on a lot of them.  He’s a good man. 

        

SPSO traffic stop ends with two arrests on 17 counts

Last Friday, May 19, Sabine Parish Sheriffs Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) agents conducted a traffic stop on a red 2022 Kia for careless operation of a vehicle on Hwy. 6 East in Fort Jesup. 

After approaching the vehicle and contacting the driver, Alyssa Delatin, agents then noticed four juvenile children in the vehicle who were unrestrained, with one in the back hatch area of the auto.

While speaking with Delatin, agents also detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When asked about it, the passenger of the vehicle admitted to having had marijuana in the automobile earlier. All occupants were then asked to exit the car and a search of the vehicle was conducted.

As a result of the search, one-quarter pound of methamphetamine (120 Grams), 19 fentanyl pills, packaging material and a scale were located. Other TNT agents then responded to the traffic stop to assist.

As the result of the investigation, Alyssa Delatin was arrested for Careless Operation, Illegal Window Tint, Driving under Suspension, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, four counts – Possession of CDS in the Presence of a Juvenile, No Child Restraint (all Misdemeanor charges); and Possession with Intent Schedule II (Meth), Possession with Intent Schedule II (Fentanyl), (both Felony charges.)

The front seat passenger and owner of the vehicle, Brittany McCollister, was also arrested and booked for the following:  Four counts – Possession of CDS in the Presence of a Juvenile (Misdemeanors); Possession with Intent Schedule ll (Meth) and Possession with Intent Schedule ll (Fentanyl), (Felony charges.)

A Zwolle man was arrested over the weekend for Indecent sexual behavior with a juvenile.

Frederick Darrell Garcie, 53, reportedly engaged in sexual acts with a 15-year-old inside a retail store bathroom in Shreveport.

The Shreveport Police Dept. was called on May 20 and the caller said a sex crime was happening inside the store bathroom in the 1600 block of E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. (The 1600 block is at the Bert Kouns intersection with Youree Dr.)

During their investigation, Garcie was arrested by detectives on one count of Indecent sexual behavior with a juvenile.

The Sabine Speedway in Many was the site of a special victory for race driver Tommy Rascoe Friday night, May 19. He ran the race in memory of his late uncle, noting, “This one is for him right here. I wouldn’t be in [racing] if it weren’t for him. He taught me everything I know about it.” It was Rascoe’s third win and worth $1,200.

Friday’s 25-lap “Cajun Region” Dirt Modifieds event was the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled by Sunoco second round of the Day Motor Sports points series.

Rascoe started from the first row and held the lead throughout. Coming in second at the checkered flag was Koty Adams, winner of the recent 105 Cleveland, Texas, held in April. Patrik Daniel took third, Caleb Dillard, fourth, and Keith Badiali rounded out the Top 5.

Other racers in the Feature Finish (25 laps) were Brother Fowlkes, Keith White, Thomas Holt, Corey Oltz, David Hatton, Richard Holt, James Griffin and David Forbis.

It’s that time again of year again. Be sure to wear your seatbelt. Starting on May 24 and continuing for two weeks, Louisiana law enforcement will have an increased presence on roads throughout the state checking to make sure drivers are safely buckled. Their “Click it or Ticket” initiative seeks to decrease the number of traffic deaths due to driving without a seatbelt.

“The lack of seat belt usage is often a key factor among young drivers,” according to Deputy Director of Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins. It is reported that 66 percent of fatal crashes involve drivers aged 15 to 24 who were not wearing their seatbelts. The national seatbelt use average is 90.3 percent; Louisiana seatbelt use is at 85.7 percent.

“Our goal is to get to 100 percent,” Cummins said. “It’s not about beating the national average it’s about saving lives.”

(Special thanks to my wife Laurie for the two articles above.)

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