The “Grumbling Old Fart” Addresses Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge’s Statements
Since we were stopped, arrested, assaulted and thrown in a cage for 10 hours by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department we’ve had a lot of support from fellow fans of freedom. People are taking the initiative to get the word about what happened in their own way, including the blog post “He Had No Idea What Their Plans Were” by the “Grumbling Old Fart.” His point-by-point dissection of Sheriff Alex Hodge’s statements were pretty on the spot so we thought we’d share it with you (he also covered our arrest here):
In my previous post I told the story of three libertarian young men making a cross country trip in an R.V. They were stopped in Jones County Mississippi by the local sheriffs department because the deputy couldn’t read the tag on the temporary plate.
Well, now the sheriff has given his side of the story, or at least the departments side of the story.
And it is F’d Up!
Here, without edit, are the words/quotes of Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge:
Peter Eyre and Jason Talley of New Hampshire and Adam Mueller of Laurel were arrested during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 59. He said deputies gave the suspects numerous opportunities to identify themselves, but they refused to do so.
Not exactly a truthful statement by the sheriff. Obviously, if you read the charges against the three men, you won’t find anything about driving without a license in there, or refusing to produce a valid license… or vehicle registration or proof of insurance. The driver got out of the vehicle with license and registration in hand, and gave them to the officer. I’ll delve deeper into the “numerous opportunities to identify themselves” stuff in a later quote.
Uncertain of who or what they were dealing with, Hodge said deputies arrested the suspects and subsequent investigation revealed the individuals had an agenda which included not complying with orders given by authorities. They were discovered to be motorhomediaries.com activists.
A citizen is only required to follow lawful requests given by authorities. Any request that goes against a citizens rights can be refused. Oh, and police can’t give citizens “ORDERS”. Orders are something done in a chain of command, or business setting. Citizens do not work for and are not below police officers in a chain of command. They are not military, no matter how much they want to believe the general public is the enemy. Regarding the individuals “agenda”… was the agenda illegal? They don’t call for people to break laws, they simply call for us to exercise our rights, responsibilities, and freedoms.
“We have a job to do and we will do it,” explained Hodge. “We are not here to promote or condemn anyone’s agenda.”
Then why did the sheriff decide it was important enough to state that they discovered these guys “had an agenda”? Obviously the sheriff is trying to condemn the agenda by stating it was something IT IS NOT. Read the “agenda” for yourself.
“Our job is to provide protection and service to our citizens. When our deputy was confronted with these men who refused to identify themselves; he had no idea what their plans were.”
There are two issues here.
1. The refusing to identify. No U.S. state currently requires a non-driving citizen to produce a government issued ID upon request of the police unless that person is a suspect of committing a crime, or is caught committing a crime. Non-drivers are only required to state their name, city, and state of residence. This was from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Hiibel v 6th Judicial Court of Nevada in 2004. So, we know the driver provided photo identification, since he claims to have done so, and he wasn’t charged with any moving violations. The two passengers both have claimed to have responded to the police requests for identification by stating their names and city/state of residence.
2. These men did not “confront” the deputy. The deputy pulled them over and initiated the whole thing when he requested, illegally, for the men who were passengers to supply him with documentation of their identities. This isn’t Nazi Germany… there is no room for “Papers please” in the United States of America. BTW… unless the deputy is a psychic or has some ESP thing going on, he isn’t going to have any idea of the plans of anyone he has pulled over… and they aren’t required to explain their plans to him!
“I am proud of our deputies handling of this traffic stop,” said Hodge. “I have demonstrated my willingness to admit when we are wrong. However, in this case, they handled themselves in a proper and professional manner.”
Sorry sheriff. Proper and professional? It isn’t proper or professional for the police to violate the rights of any US citizen.
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to “The “Grumbling Old Fart” Addresses Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge’s Statements”
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- May 20, 2009: » Jones County, MS Sherriff versus Motorhome Diaries | the Motorhome Diaries
- Sep 27, 2009: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore | the Motorhome Diaries
I just want to point out that I am not from Laurel, like it was stated in this post and others. I am from Wisconsin and this was my first time in Mississippi.
I don’t see how it is proper or proffesionl to pepper spray a non violent person. Jason we can tell did not attack the officers or provide any reason to provoke an attack against his body except that for refusing to follow an “ORDER”. Now since they did attack Jason and if he is found to be innocent of the charges will he be able to sue the officer for attacking him. I know if I walked around pepper spraying random people in my neighborhood I know I would be arrested and sent to the slammer for a very long time
Sheriff Alex Hodge can be reached through the sheriff’s department at (601)425-3147, and receive letters at 419 Yates Ave; Laurel, Mississippi 39441.
I may give them a call later when I can record the convo. I will also look for a more direct line.
Thanks for the link to my post guys! I’m glad you appreciated my write-up. I’m going to continue to follow this closely, so I’ll be writing up on the developments as I hear about them.
Keep up the good work! The only way we can maintain (and in some cases, win back) our rights and freedoms is to exercise them.
I’m glad he peppered your stupid behind. Maybe you’ll stay out of the south, stupid yankees.
Good luck guys. If you ever get to central Kentucky let me know; like to buy you dinner & talk.
This is a great point-by-point dissection. Good luck on your next plans, MHD crew.
What were the deputies names?
I am from Laurel, MS and I would like to say that what Alex Hodge did does not represent how the rest of Jones County citizens feel. I have a huge respect for what yall are doing but just make sure yall understand that the majority of Jones County does not like Alex Hodge.
I saw you on “Freedom Watch” I’m glad you’re traveling the US. I used to travel 8 months out of the year for my job and I have been pulled over for some ridiculous things. When I refused to cooperate with an illegal search, I was jailed in New Orleans. I was of course let go, but not without a major hassle. Keep up the good work and if you’re ever in Portland, OR, look me up. Oh, and as for Bryan a few posts back: Hey Dickhead, the Civil War is over and you’re giving Mississippi a bad name.
Those of you from Jones County, I sincerely hope you remember this event when Sheriff Alex Hodge is up for re-election. As was pointed out above, this is not Nazi Germany. Individuals like him will come out of the woodwork when the conditions are right. It’s up to you to vote him out and get someone in who will uphold the law. Only in this manner, one move at a time can this sort of egregious behavior be changed. Sheriff Hodge is a reflection of the will of the people of Jones County regardless of how much the county residents detest him (as was pointed out above).
A vast majority of people in Jones county appreciate the work Sheriff Hodge and the boys do to keep our area clear of riff raff like yourselves.
And to you Michael Robertson, you couldn’t handle living in the south with real men, huh? Had to go back to Portland with your homo friends? I still hope for the earthquake that will drop you and the rest of the left coast in the Pacific.
I’m thinking Bryan is Sheriff Hodge.
Awful defensive.
@Bryan, thanks for making Mississippi look like a band of flaming idiots from the stone ages.
@everyone else I am a Jones County resident and apologize for our Sheriff deputies’ actions and for Bryan’s uneducated dirty mouth. Most of us are good folks!
actually, most of jones county supports alex hodge, im not sure who these people are saying that the majority does not support him, that is simply not the truth. While he may be wrong in this situation he has generally been a very good sheriff and is widely liked.
One thing is for sure. The deputies & police believe they are above the law. They should have to abide by it as well. My husband was in an incident with the Jones County deputies a couple of years ago. It was a wreck scene where the Jones County deputies acted STUPID. It wasn’t under Alex Hodge. It was when we had “the other sheriff”. If you want to know more contact me.
I have known Alex Hodge for many years and I know his character. This young man is one of the most upstanding law enforcement officers left in the State of Mississippi. Sheriff Hodge is not biased when it comes to enforcing the law. It seems to me that you have a personal grudge of sorts – perhaps because you were “caught” for once? I think it is unforgiving that you should attempt a smear at his good name and want to assure you that your mark is very minimal in this county.
Caught doing what? Driving? I don’t appreciate some backwards idiot, or in this case- idiots, talking as if they represent the south when you haven’t a clue! The South, more than once, has stood for liberty… here in SC, we held Cornwallis here so he could not overtake Continentals in the northeast and again, we left congress when the federal government was trying to overstep its boundaries. Don’t let your bass ackwards IQ of 50 make the rest of us southerners look bad…
Hey Bryan tell your wife/sister I said I miss the good times we used to share.
It is uneducated people like “Bryan” who give Mississippi a bad name. MHD, I will happily offer a free night’s stay to you anytime you come to Jones County. Free beer also. I’m a disabled Veteran who applaud’s your fight for freedom. “Bryan,” I wish I could test out the Castle Doctrine on my property with your body being the target.