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Independent Appeal Making McNairy County headlines for more than 111 years

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Volume 111, Number 26, Wednesday, November 13, 2013

INSIDE THIS WEEK

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Former SPD officer guilty Reynolds faces 10 years for beating handcuffed man By Christen Coulon and Jeff Whitten Independent Appeal Staff

MCNAIRY COUNTY

HONORS VETS

More than a half dozen Veteran’s Day Celebrations PAGE 2A & 12A

CLASS OF 1949 HONORED Michie school preserves their Blue Devil roots PAGE 1B

ROBOTIC BOBCATS IN ALABAMA The MCHS robotics team heads to Alabama PAGE 5A

BLUE DEVILS SWEEP REBELS Michie girls and boys come away with county win PAGE 3B

Christopher Eugene Reynolds, 39, a former police officer of the Selmer Police Department, pleaded guilty last Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee to violating the civil rights of an arrestee, James D. McKinney, the Justice Department announced. During his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge J. Daniel Breen, Reynolds admitted that while using his authority as a SPD officer, he slammed a handcuffed arrestee to the floor of the McNairy Regional Hospital and struck him in the face. According to information presented in court, Reynolds acknowledged that this assault was unreasonable and did not serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose. The victim was injured as a result of the assault. “Mr. Reynolds has admitted that he used unjustified and unlawful force against a handcuffed arrestee,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Jocelyn Samuels. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute law enforcement officers who violate the constitutional rights of individuals in Submitted Photo their custody.” Sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. James McKinney’s face reveals the extent of the injuries he received while in the 5, 2014. Reynolds faces a maximum statu- custody of Former Selmer Police Officer Christopher Eugene Reynolds. The former officer plead guilty to Civil Rights Violations after allegedly beating a handcuffed tory penalty of 10 years in prison. McKinney repeatedly at the site of his arrest, at a secluded location outside of Selmer, This case was investigated by FBI Speat the McNairy Regional Hospital and again at the sally port of the McNairy County cial Agent Christopher Miller with the asJail. Reynolds faces up to 10 years in prison. sistance of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by “I have been made aware that Mr. Chris Reynolds must be a poor driver if he could Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Ryan Reynolds has entered a plea of guilty in re- not catch McKinney, given that Reynolds J. Murguía and Special Litigation Coun- gards to the criminal charges he was facing was driving a patrol muscle car and McKsel Gerard V. Hogan, with the in the Federal District Court inney was driving a Saturn in poor condiassistance of Assistant U.S. of West Tennessee in the inci- tion, according to the complaint. Attorney Victor L. Ivy of the dent involving my client Mr. The incident report filed by Reynolds Western District of Tennessee. James McKinney. This case is said that a strong odor of intoxicant was not just about James McKin- on McKinney’s person and inside the paReynolds was fired from ney, it is about our Constitu- trol car. McKinney’s car was seized in acSPD last year after McKinney tion. We believe the convic- cordance with state law, and he was issued filed a lawsuit against him. tion will send a message that a citation for running the stop sign at the “As soon as we found out violations of citizens’ consti- intersection of State and Hillcrest Streets. about this we conducted an tutional rights will not be tolReynolds then allegedly struck McKininvestigation. We determined erated by our justice system, ney in the face with his closed fist, knockwhat had happened and we even if the violations occur at ing him unconscious. Reynolds then terminated Mr. Reynolds bethe hands of police officers,” proceeded to kick, beat and drag the semicause we don’t want any adsaid D. J. Norton, McKinney’s conscious McKinney to his patrol car. He verse outlook on our departattorney. then handcuffed, shackled and “hog tied” ment. We did what was right,” REYNOLDS Reynolds allegedly came McKinney and put him in the patrol car. said Selmer Chief of Police to McKinney’s home on April Reynolds also allegedly used a pepper or Neal Burks. Burks said Reynolds was quickly termi- 28, 2011 and accused him of fleeing from mace type chemical spray on McKinney’s nated after the incident came to light, and him in a vehicle earlier in the night and face, eyes, ears and other parts of his body, there was no question what would be done driving on a suspended or revoked license. See REYNOLDS GUILTY, 3A McKinney denied fleeing and said that once SPD found out what had happened.

Arrested for burglary days after release on burglary conviction By Jeff Whitten

night of Nov. 4 or in the early morning of Nov. 5. An iPhone was found that the owner thought might have been lost. Police have, as yet, been unable to identify the owners of a flash light and a radar detector, but have returned a pair of binoculars, a camera and a GPS to the owners. “Selmer Police Department would like to recognize Sgt. Steve Ellsworth with the McNairy County Sheriffs Office who was instrumental in helping us solve these crimes,” Rickman said. Rickman said that more charges would likely be filed in the case. Anyone with additional knowledge of these crimes should call the Selmer police at 645-7907.

Head News Writer

Charles Anthony Edwards, 42, of Selmer, didn’t get to enjoy his freedom for long. He had only been released for three days from the Tennessee Department of Corrections in Henning, Tenn. after serving a three-year sentence for Madison County burglaries, when he was arrested last Wednesday by the Selmer Police Department. Edwards was charged with two counts of burglary after a search of his residence revealed items taken from vehicles, according to a press release by Lt. Roger Rickman. The Selmer police believe that the burglaries occurred either on the

Smith elected Mayor of Selmer

Staff Photos by Jeff Whitten

Alderman Edward Smith congratulates Mayor-elect John Smith at his victory celebration at the Rockabilly Cafe Nov. 5. In the night’s other races, John Finlayson was reelected to the Board of Aldermen and Johnny Norris was elected to fill Smith’s old seat on the board.

See SELMER ELECTION, 3A

z Opinion 7A z Obituaries 8A z Events 9A z Courtroom 10A z Community 9A z Lifestyles 9A z Sports 1B z Campus 6B z Classifieds 8B Wed - 46/27 Sunny

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