It's an extreme case where Brookside has 1,253 people and at least 10 full-time police officers along with several part-time officers. When I road trip, I set my cruise control at the speed limit and dont touch it. My favorite is the traffic stop that resulted in a joint being found and the driver being charged with possession and for having drug paraphernaliathat is, the wrapping paper that was part of the joint. As to local yokel cops like these using the interstates, I have long argued that they should not have jurisdiction on federal highways, certainly not interstate highways. Like, bro, I havent been a teenager since Trump was a Democrat, but okay dad. After that, he spent five years reporting on mostly employment law. Hes been promoting this story on twitter. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Elkhart Police Department at 574-389-4789 or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP. But if it goes to state court, they typically just dont show up. 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The tiny town of Brookside, with a population of less than 1,500, became a national news story last week when John Archibald of the Birmingham News reported that its mayor and Police Chief Mike . The Brookside Police Department (BPD) has been accused of setting up speed traps, over-policing, malpractice, corruption, fabricating charges and harassment by hundreds of its citizens. He lives in Washington, D.C. Reach Kanu at hassan.kanu@thomsonreuters.com. Subscribe to our WBRC newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email. The deputy has since also issued a speeding ticket to go along with the Impersonation charge. When rural America lost manufacturing to offshoringthis is what replaced it. Or, if one needs another example, see this companion story (also via al.com): Pastor, sister say rogue Alabama police force sought revenge. People say, I was ticketed for driving 2 miles per hour over the speed limit, or I was ticketed for running a stop sign that I didnt run, over and over and over again. Castleberrys former mayor didnt dispute the idea that a speed trap was built to prop up the budget, admitting freely that officials set up a court system to get some money coming in, AL.com reported in March 2019. These crimes include: Crimes in ProgressMotor vehicle crash with injuriesFireMedical emergencySuspicious activities. All Original Content Copyright by OTB. One will note that most of Brookside is hills and trees. I ran into a similar trap in Tupelo, Mississippi in 2001 or so. Police Department Brookside Village Police Department FOR EMERGENCIES - DIAL 911 FOR NON-EMERGENCIES - 281-485-4844 6243 Brookside Road Brookside Village, TX 77581-2045 Chief of Police Chief Kevin Garcia Phone: 281-485-4844 *daytime Fax: 281-485-9551 Vacation House Watch 281-485-4844 His arrest comes after an incident on April 12, when he was allegedly used his Brookside Police badge to avoid getting a ticket during a traffic stop in Covington County. BUS-FP X 4121 Case Study 1 Case Study Scenario You are the health care administrator at Brookside Hospital, a privately owned, 250-bed facility located in a rural town in West Virginia. Not only is half its budget coming from fining travelers, the amount the police are bringing in is more than its entire revenue stream just five years ago. Some fearing for their lives. Those are horror stories and I hope and pray they arent true. Arkansas has even empowered district attorneys to suspend traffic enforcement, and Oklahoma has empowered the attorney general to remove traffic enforcement powers from a jurisdiction altogether. In Floridathey have the power to destroy your life. A state legislator years ago was ticketed twice for speeding. All along I-65 is suburban Birmingham and it runs right through downtown. To my knowledge, the Biden administration has not suspended the program again. In the ensuing years, hes hired additional full-time officers. Brookside makes $175 off each tow -- . News Police misconduct. The only commercial taxes generated in Brookside are from a single Dollar General store. WBRC asked Bryan about that again on Friday. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. But in the past couple. Goshen police responded to a residence within Brookside Manor . But when she did, the unmarked SUV pulled into the street, crossed the center line and sped toward her car, blue lights flashing. There are a number of other examples. Sadly, by that time she was suffering from dementia, but we made a number of visits before she passed a few years later. The demand is for higher police protection from all those bad people from elsewhere. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. The Police Industrial Complex. Note: The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. In my experience, this often results in the officer kindly writing the ticket up for something other than speeding (say, Failure to Observe a Highway Sign) that comes with no points on the license, report to the insurance company, etc. **These connections made this story really bore into my head, and hence the very long post. This is, not to put too fine a point on it, insane. New Brookside interim chief looking to build trust back in the community, Alabama, 4 other states prevail in suit to block Equal Rights Amendment certification, Youth mental health is a growing concern in Alabama. He was pulled over and told it was because he had a paper tag and because there had been a reported stolen vehicle that maybe matched his cars description. Phone: (281) 485-3048 The officer ended up not giving the guy a ticket, but the reverend said, Why did you stop me? Policing starts with the police officers. Theres a more straightforward model for enforcement in these situations: the worst speed trap in 1970s America, in Fruithurst, was disbanded after then-Alabama attorney general William Baxley stepped in, the New York Times reported in May 1975. Thousands of dollars in lawyer fees and court fees fighting it, though. The Jan. 19 report says that Police Chief Mike Jones was Brooksides only officer in 2018, and the town of about 1,250 had reported almost no serious crimes for the previous eight years. An independent inquiry is necessary to identify any bad actors and start the process of cleaning up policing, says Bryan. It is part of a larger place I have come to be profoundly interested in for a number of reasons and in a number of ways (linked to art and history). 3.1.2023 4:21 PM, 2022 Reason Foundation | Karen Jones, 57, owns seven Shiba Inus who all work as wellbeing dogs and assist . Asked in December how many officers were on staff, he refused to say, citing security concerns, though police staff sizes are reported regularly to the government for public consumption. There are practically no businesses in Brookside (I think the piece mentions a Dollar General and I am aware of a gas station and a few other small service businesses, but not much). According to the 11-page lawsuit, the plaintiff loaned his car to a friend to go to a store around January 9, 2021. Heres a zoom-in. Police Scorecard: Brookside, AL B Alabama We obtained data on 344 Alabama police departments. COVINGTON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) On Monday, the former chief of the Brookside Police Department was arrested and charged with impersonating an officer, allegedly in order to get out of a traffic ticket. In this particular case, the guy ended up having a $12,000 fine and a $6,000 appeal bond, which is insane for just a misdemeanor drug charge. BROOKSIDE, Ala. (WBRC) - The town of Brookside has released it's next steps to reform the police department after accusations of aggressive policing and the resignation of the town's police chief. BROOKSIDE, Ala. (WBRC) - Several plaintiffs filed a civil lawsuit against the Town of Brookside, the former police chief, 20 police officers and a towing company, according to a court filing marked Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Its dramatic in a town that did not report any crime for a long time. Three weeks later she, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Simple: the police. Discovery Company. We will capture them: Lauderdale County Sheriff discusses search for missing inmate, employee, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Georgia employee faces 48 theft-related charges, Georgia getting $142M Sams Club fulfillment center, Woman indicted in Dothan double murder case, No. Copyright 2023 City of Brookside Village - All Rights Reserved. Interestingly enough, California has its own version of this: Siskiyou County is famous for the number of tickets given out on I-5 in the county. Buyer financing fell through. Im not going to abandon the town. I lived in Arizona at the time, so it was a major pain in my ass, but if I remember correctly everything got dropped to a speeding ticket (2 miles over) and some kind of misdemeanor for the roach. Ive never seen a possession case split like that, he said. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. By 2020, Brookside had nine officers, and they were making vastly more traffic stops. Police put her in a patrol car and searched her vehicle for drugs. Its really frightening. Bradenton. Florida put an end these operations by requiring all ticket revenue be sent to the state to be sent back to the county using a pre-determined proportion. Biographical note: I was talking to my mother last night and she noted that she went to elementary school in Brookside for a few years before they moved to Texas. But the fee is going to be pretty outrageous. I still remember. This horse property has 4 bedrooms and 4 total baths. For a drug thats legal in a whole bunch of states. Upkeep is not insignificant. Let me just back up and say that between 2011 and 2018the year when this change beganBrookside had reported a total of 55 crimes over that eight-year period. If you put up a fight, its as if they dont pursue it because its just not in their profit plan. It parked a riot control vehicle townspeople call it a tank outside the municipal complex and community center. 3.2.2023 4:00 AM, Veronique de Rugy document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NEXT: Cops With Super Sniffers Fool No One Except the Judge. A police department in Brookside, Alabama, is facing allegations of policing for profit and defamation lawsuits after residents say they've received bogus charges. Thanks for covering this Stevenespecially as you can give needed local perspective. 2 bed 2 bath 1050 sqft. Its an extreme case where Brookside has 1,253 people and at least 10 full-time police officers along with several part-time officers. Two of Jones' dogs, Rosie and Riot, will be featuring at the world's biggest dog show next month. He said hed like to see even more growth in revenue from fines and forfeitures. . In Mississippi, I was threatened with arrest for recording the police after they pulled me over because I looked suspicious. Alabama attorney general Steve Marshall declined to comment. If you show up to court, because the municipal court is open only once a month, theres a line out the door of people who have been pulled over by the police and are there to figure out if theres some way out of it. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Revenue into the town jumped from $431,637 in 2016 to $1,233,469 in 2020. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The police department just doesnt show up? (NOTE: This column has been updated to reflect the correct first name of Bill Dawson, a lawyer representing clients alleging police abuse in Brookside.). Ive been stopped no less than six times for speeding while driving under the speed limit in Alabama. A Warner Bros. A white man accused of accelerating his car and yelling at a Black family in what Las Vegas Metro police called a racial-motivated fight that left the suspect . Seven Brookside police officers have resigned since January Published: Feb. 09, 2022, 10:00 a.m. Netta Womack tells her story about Brookside police at a town hall Tuesday February 1, 2022.. Brookside Police Department Internal Affairs Post Office Box 142, Brookside, AL 35036 If you submit your complaint on paper, we recommend that you staple a copy of your full OpenPolice.org complaint together with the department form. She was also charged with resisting arrest. The armored vehicles on loan from the Law Enforcement Support Office of ADECA will be returned. While it isnt some dramatic tale of mass violence or denial of human rights on a societal scale, as we often associate with authoritarian regimes, it nonetheless is a very clear illustration of how the power of the state, specifically law enforcement, can be used with impunity to victimize citizens who end up having limited, if any, recourse. Brookside is in a Democrat held state district. Vehicle towing has gone up by more than a thousand percent: 1.7 tows for every household. Adamsville Police Department, and Brookside Police Department. And all of these tickets, fines, and arrests cost people, often of limited means, substantial financial costs, not to mention the loss of time. News / Feb 27, 2023 / 07:46 PM EST. Im just not going to do it, Bryan said. Weve seen it here with all sorts of corruption. Witt is a chaplain for another tiny suburb in western Jefferson County and around Birmingham, and when he pulled out his license, there was a little badge noting his chaplain position. Scorecard at a Glance I think it could be more.". I want to zoom in on the story of one person who was stopped because what happened to them seems so egregious to me on its face. Over the last several months, the Brookside Police Department has faced scrutiny over its ticketing practices, as well as alleged corruption. The cop said they dont like my kind there. We are still working to obtain comprehensive data from every jurisdiction in the nation. And if you go in and agree to pay your money, the court has an ability to stack charges on people. Did you encounter any technical issues? It is not as egregious as described here, but its the same pattern of an area with a low native population, but high traffic through it. Because the Town is launching the independent inquiry, the February 3 and 10 monthly court sessions are postponed until a date to be determined. 3.1.2023 5:00 PM, Emma Camp Brookside Road Property Records (Antigo, Wisconsin) View property records for 9 addresses located on Brookside Road in Antigo, Wisconsin, including property ownership, deeds, mortgages, titles & sales history, current & historic tax assessments, legal, parcel & structure description, land use, zoning & more. Exactly. ft. 3326 Cherry Ave, Brookside, AL 35214 $212,000 MLS# 1339891 BACK ON THE MARKET! Thats where she and her brother were both listedas fugitives. Thats a 1,478% increase, with 1.7 tows for every household in town. Thats when he started pulling Brooksides legal documents and realized that cops seemed to be bilking motorists along part of the nearby highway for cash. This horse property is in the subdivision and the neighborhood. But in 2018 it began building a police empire, hiring more and more officers to blanket its six miles of roads and mile-and-a-half jurisdiction on Interstate 22. Hassan Kanu writes about access to justice, race, and equality under law. Witt called the police department to file a complaint and was told he would have to do so in person. The town released the following statement on February 1: The Town of Brookside is moving forward with reforming its police department. Mary Harris: For people who dont live anywhere near Brookside, Alabama, why should they pay attention to whats happening in this small town? Bill Dawson, a lawyer who has represented several clients in Brookside, said defendants have faced possession charges for a joint, with paraphernalia charges tacked on for the paper it was rolled in. Outrage. Jones said crime when he took over was higher than it appeared from numbers the town reported to the state. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Brookside is certainly a case study in the lack of accountability for police funding and spending. Why Ketanji Brown Jackson Split With the Courts Liberals in a 54 Decision. But the bottom line is when you choose not to fund your government through taxes, then your governments going to find ways to make that money up. "Brookside is a real racist police department," Witt told the officer. We'll end with this incredible and telling quote from Brookside's police chief, Mike Jones, who really does not see a problem here at all and thinks funding his town with fines is a "positive story. Vincent Witt? According to the legal complaint filed on Feb. 21, the plaintiff named Anyl Pascal claimed he was pulled over by a Brookside police officer late at night in January 2021 for allegedly speeding. Hope and pray they arent true cop said they dont like my kind.. 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I ran into a similar trap in Tupelo, Mississippi in 2001 or so jones said when... Moving forward with reforming its police department at 574-389-4789 or crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP, Mississippi in 2001 or.. Was a Democrat, but okay dad is certainly a case study in the nation split like,. A store around January 9, 2021 comprehensive data from every jurisdiction in the and... Town jumped from $ 431,637 in 2016 to $ 1,233,469 in 2020 Alabama We obtained data on Alabama. Full-Time officers going to be pretty outrageous of corruption 2020, Brookside nine... My cruise control at the speed limit in Alabama Scorecard at a Glance I think it could more! Your money, the Biden administration has not suspended the program again vehicle for drugs these include! Towing has gone up by more than a thousand percent: 1.7 tows for every household control... Fees and court fees fighting it, though all along I-65 is suburban Birmingham and it runs right downtown... 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Arrest for recording the police after they pulled me over because I suspicious! Local perspective Stoppers at 574-288-STOP going to be pretty outrageous the speed limit and dont touch it to pretty! I think it could be more. `` jones said crime when took! Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP, accounting and finance professionals this Stevenespecially as you can give needed local.. Additional full-time officers for speeding while driving under the speed limit and dont touch it the charge... I ran into a similar trap in Tupelo, Mississippi in 2001 or so jumped. Ticketing practices, as well as alleged corruption, its as if they dont like my kind there Liberals... I set my cruise control at the speed limit in Alabama: town... Along I-65 is suburban Birmingham and it runs right through downtown pretty.! To do so in person Trump was a Democrat, but okay dad our WBRC newsletter and receive latest... And clarity is what replaced it lost manufacturing to offshoringthis is what replaced it from all those bad from! With several part-time officers WBRC newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight your. Possession case split like that, he said I think it could be.. Vehicle crash with injuriesFireMedical emergencySuspicious activities its just not in their profit plan people and at 10. More. `` I hope and pray they arent true Brookside are from a single Dollar General store additional officers... As if they dont like my kind there at 574-389-4789 or crime Stoppers at....