Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 09/07/2006 9:43:17 AM PDT by WKB
They work in the same Hinds county office building, but they were complete strangers during a frightening encounter in the backyard of a Clinton home.
A startled Hinds County Chancery Judge grabbed a machete, he says because he feared for his life and property.
A Hinds county employee has filed a criminal complaint and says he was just doing his job.
This encounter has now changed the way Hinds County tax assessors do their job.
"I felt I was assaulted," said Hinds County field tax assessor Bob Merritt. "I was ambushed from behind."
The county employee said he was measuring the dimensions of a garage on Hinds County Chancery Judge William Singletary's property when the judge walked up behind him and threatened his life.
"He grabbed me from behind," Merritt said. "I had my tape and my paper in my hand. A machete came around here and was up to my throat and was poking like this."
Last Wednesday the 53-year-old says he parked his marked county vehicle in front of the house, rang the door bell and knocked but got no answer, although he saw a car.
Merritt said after Singletary grabbed him, he identified himself and begged the judge to call 911, but he continued to hold the machete to his neck and ushered him to his county vehicle.
"We've never to my knowledge had any incident such as this occur," said Hinds County Tax Assessor Mike Barnes.
Barnes said Singletary apologized following the incident, but now because of the Castle Doctrine that allows residents to protect their property, he has changed policy.
Five field officers assess taxes on over 28,000 parcels a year. Barnes has now instructed employees not to enter the property without permission of someone on the property.
"Leave your business card at the front door," Barnes added, "(and) hopefully someone will call you back. Estimate the addition that may have been made on the house if it is occupied and hopefully the individual will call you back. We will then set an appointment to go out there."
Judge Singletary said he was working in his garage when he was startled by someone walking in his backyard.
The judge denies ever putting the machete to Merritt's neck and says he could not see any employee badge that would signify that this person had a reason to be in his backyard. "I was just trying to find out who the guy was and protect me and my property in the process," Singletary said.
The six-year county employee has filed a complaint with the Clinton Police Department and says in light of the "Castle Law," which offers leniency to citizens who use deadly force to protect their property, he is now concerned about the safety of workers like himself who must access private property.
Barnes says if residents do not contact the assessor's office for an appointment after an employee visit, they will be assessed taxes based on the estimate of the property.
What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The taxidermist takes only your skin.
MARK TWAIN
Leniency ain't immunity
You'd think that concept would be a given, but then according to them we don't own property, just rent it through our property taxes.
> Some people wanted to change the name of the city
during the Clinton era. <
Yes, a lot of folks there in Clinton MS wanted to change the city's name to "Ebbers MS" (as in "Bernie").
I thought it was a pretty good idea at the time!
It's called a PHONE CALL PEOPLE! Jeez.
That job is now back in the hands of freepatriot32.
In rural Morgan County, Indiana, persons who enter someone's backyard without permission should make certain to carry several sets of identification...it's a great assistance to the coroner.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
"No illegal trespass:
now there's a novel idea"
My friends bought a house in Byram, MS. The junction for cable TV for that neighborhood was actually in their back yard. They had large dogs that lived in the yard. The cable TV company had the nerve to tell them they had to lock the dogs in the house during the day so the cable guy could enter their back yard whenever he needed to.
Their answer consisted of two words that begin with "F" and "Y".
I wonder why the YEARS OLD addition to the judge's house was not already on the tax roll. I think grabbing a machete confirms "Ye doth protest too much" .... sounds guilty and suspicious to me
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