Monroe wrongful death suit settled
...but it’s not be over yet
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
civil suit against the Town of Homer and two officers involved in the shooting
death of a Homer man has been settled, but it’s not necessarily over.
Bernard
Monroe Sr. was shot and killed by former Homer Police Officer Tim Cox on Friday, February 20, 2009, in the front yard of his home. According to police, Cox and
former Officer Joseph Henry were pursuing Monroe’s son, Sean. The foot pursuit
ended in Monroe’s front yard where Cox allegedly chased the younger Monroe out of the house. Initial reports say Monroe was shot when he allegedly engaged the
two officers with a loaded handgun. Witnesses, family members and friends say Monroe did not have a gun in his possession at the time of the shooting.
Along
with the Louisiana State Police, which conducted the physical investigation,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began an inquiry as well into any
violations of civil rights allegations soon after the incident. That
investigation was still ongoing, according to Special Agent Andre Jeanfreau,
acting spokesperson for the FBI, New Orleans Division. Officials would not give
a timeline or an estimated date as to when the investigation would be complete.
“We do
acknowledge that these are open and ongoing cases, but we can’t comment on the
specifics of the case,” Jeanfreau said.
In
Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the town council unanimously agreed to
accept a motion to settle with the Monroe family after more than a year of
investigation and heartache on both sides. According to the agreement released
to the media, the town has agreed to pay Louise M. Monroe, Monroe Sr.’s widow,
a total sum of $125,000, with the first payment of $50,000 to be made
immediately and $25,000 each year for the next three years.
On the
same note, though, a “gag order” of sorts has been issued, which orders parties
and attorneys on both sides not to speak to the media, except to acknowledge the
agreement.
“Although
the parties understand that this settlement document may be a public record and
therefore discoverable via a public records request, the parties and their
counsel agree that this settlement and the terms thereof shall not be publicized,
promoted, or communicated (other than to acknowledge the settlement and this
agreement) in the media, on the internet, or otherwise in public as it is the
parties desire to resolve this matter fully,” the agreement stated.
The
agreement also releases the Town of Homer, Cox and Henry from any liability,
which means they cannot be sued on this same case again.
However,
this settlement does not mean the town or the officers are admitting to any
wrongdoing.
“It is
understood and agreed that this is a compromise settlement of doubtful and
disputed claims, that the parties herein released expressly deny any and all
liability whatsoever in the premises, this compromise settlement being entered
into primarily for the purpose of avoiding further litigation,” the agreement
states.
Both
officers were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by a grand jury called by the
Louisiana Attorney General’s Office in February. After two days of looking into
the case, the grand jury came back with a “no true bill,” which means they
didn’t find enough evidence to charge the two officers with any criminal
charges.
Also,
the state police report on the Monroe case is still tied up with the attorney
general’s office, citing ongoing litigation in New Orleans on a case involving
the deaths of five people after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A grand jury also
cleared a physician who was blamed for the five deaths, and those records were
returned to the charity hospital. However, local and national media outlets
disputed the return of those records saying they were public record, even
though portions of those records are the patient records of the deceased.
The
attorney general’s office has filed suit, asking the Louisiana Supreme Court to
better define public records law. That case was handed back down to a lower
appellate court for reconsideration, and as of press time, there is no word
where that case stands.
Until the New Orleans case is
completed, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has put a hold on all records unless
they have been prescribed, or the cases have been permanently closed.
In
other council news, the town council approved:
• A
contract renewal with Claiborne Animal Clinic for the sheltering of animals as
well as the disposal fee for those euthanized. The town has agreed to pay the clinic
$350 per month for the housing, food and care of these animals and $5 per
animal that is euthanized.
• A
resolution authorizing the town to incur debt and to issue not to exceed
$200,000 aggregate principal amount of revenue bonds, in one or more series,
making application to the state bond commission and otherwise providing with
respect thereto in order to allow Homer Memorial Hospital to purchase a new
X-Ray machine to replace the one that is broken.
• A
resolution dealing with LGAP grants to authorize Interim Mayor Alecia N. Smith
to enter into any and all contractual obligations with LGAP on behalf of the
Town of Homer.
• A
resolution authorizing Mayor Smith to execute documents for the submission of a
grant request up to $35,000 to the Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF).
• A
participation agreement with the Delta Regional Authority for grant
application, and a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement.
•
Acceptance of the lowest bid for Homer Municipal Airport lighting improvements.
• A
resolution authorizing the mayor to execute documents for the grant from FAA
and the Louisiana DOTD for the lighting improvements and obstruction removal.
Smith said during the meeting
the town is currently dealing with five different grant requests at the same
time.
“We are
diligently trying to pursue grants at this time, ultimately to improve the
quality of life for all Homer citizens,” Smith said. “Some of the grants can be
dated back a couple of months, and most of them are current. We are partnering
with the Community Development Corporation and grant writers to ensure these
grants are completed in a timely manner.”
Right
now, she is dealing with the execution of the FAA grant that has been so long
in coming because of delays. The town has had to bring the airport back up to
FAA standards in order to get the grants for the lighting improvements. So,
instead of losing the grant, for the last few years, the town has essentially
had to “loan” out its grant to other municipalities to keep from losing it
altogether.
The
Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF) grant they are applying for is for
$35,000. The Delta Regional Authority (DRA), which is a federal grant for
low-income municipalities, would go towards infrastructure improvements on the
sewer system, if granted.
She is
also in the midst of attempting to get the LGAP grant, which will go towards
the purchase of a new backhoe for the town. This is worth $35,000. The town is
also requesting a Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG), Smith
said, which they are requesting $454,000, which would go towards the
construction of a potable water system – a new water well, and a chemical feed
building.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, September 6, in council chambers at the Homer Police Station. For more information,
please call city hall at 927-3555.
Caught for cashing fraudulent checks
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
woman was arrested after she was caught allegedly cashing checks that were not
hers.
Alexis
Baker, 26, was arrested on Tuesday, July 20, and charged with theft over $500
with bond set at $2,000, access device fraud with bond set at $15,000 and
monetary instrument abuse with bond set at $25,000.
According
to reports, the Homer Police Department was dispatched to Piggly Wiggly Grocery
in Homer in reference to counterfeit checks. The complainant told police she’d
received two payroll checks from a business in Haynesville and a bank branch,
also in Haynesville.
One
check was cashed using the name Wonnetta N. Arceneaux. Because the complainant
felt suspicious, police said, she called the business who confirmed the checks
were not real. Another check allegedly coming from the same business was cashed
by someone police feel is an accomplice. That one was cashed under the name
Timothy Blackman.
A
further investigation revealed the two left and traveled to the Haynesville
Piggly Wiggly to cash two more checks, Haynesville Police said. Haynesville
Police were notified of the other incident in Homer.
Officer
Mario Thomas then notified the grocery store’s main office in Springhill as
well as the Springhill Police Department. Later, Baker was arrested by
Springhill Police at Piggly Wiggly in Springhill for attempting to cash a check
there.
More
charges may be pending, according to reports, and her accomplice is still at
large.
Anyone
who has any information on this suspect is urged to call the Homer Police
Department at 927-4000. All calls will remain confidential.
Officers
Mario Thomas and Shane Huffstetler were the investigators in this case.
In an
unrelated incident, a Homer couple was arrested on several charges after Homer
Police received a call regarding a disturbance.
Brian
C. Knighton, 27, was arrested Wednesday, July 28, and charged with aggravated
assault with bond set at $1,000, and obstruction of justice with bond set at
$10,000.
Deanne
N. Knighton, 28, was arrested on the same date and charged with obstruction of
justice with bond set at $10,000, resisting an officer, with bond set at $500
and a failure to appear warrant with bond set at $500.
According
to police, a trash company originally contacted them. Police say witness
statements from the trash company stated the Knightons had been asked to move
their mini-van from the roadway. Brian Knighton then allegedly got upset with
the trash company and began yelling at the public service workers. He then
allegedly entered his home and retrieved a rifle and threatened public service
workers.
At
first, Brian Knighton refused to turn over the rifle he allegedly used, telling
police that he’d used a toy shotgun. Police say witnesses denied ever seeing
the toy shotgun, and again he and Deanne Knighton told police the toy shotgun
was the only one they had.
At that
time, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills arrives on scene, and when asked again
if he had a weapon inside his home, he finally told officers he did.
As
police followed Brian Knighton into the home to retrieve the weapon, Deanne
Knighton was told to stay outside while the search was conducted. After police
told her to stay outside, she went inside the home anyway.
The two
were arrested on the above charges. Brian Knighton was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for further booking, while Deanne Knighton was
transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility.
Officers
Thomas and Roger Smith were the arresting and investigating officers in this
case.
In
another case, a Texas woman ended up in the backseat of a patrol car in Homer
for a hit and run.
Amanda
J. Davison, 20, of Midlothian, Texas, was arrested on Friday, July 30, and
charged with DWI first, with bond set at $750, hit and run driving with bond
set at $500, failure to report an accident with bond set at $500 and improper
lane usage with bond set at $500.
According
to reports, Davison pulled over in front of the Claiborne Parish Courthouse by
Officer Van McDaniel, assisted by Officer Greg Schneider. Davison was pulled
over for reckless driving, and reportedly hitting a sign on West 3rd and Main
Streets. During the stop, McDaniel asked Davison to exit the vehicle, at which
time police said she gave consent to search. Although nothing was found in the
vehicle, McDaniel conducted field sobriety tests to which she performed poorly.
Reports
say she was then placed in handcuffs and transported to the Homer Police
Station by Officer Mike Rimsky for chemical testing.
She was
then booked on the above charges.
In a
separate incident, Dennis Charles Webb, 49, of Homer was arrested Saturday,
July 31, on charges of domestic abuse batter with bond set at $2,000 and simple
assault with bond set at $500.
According
to reports, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office dispatched Homer Police to
the 1400 block of Hill Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
Officer
Mario Thomas responded to the call, and upon arrival, the victim, Lillie Shine
Webb, was observed running out of the house yelling that she was in fear for
her life.
Mrs.
Webb told officers that her husband was physically abusing her and had verbally
threatened her. Officers observed Mrs. Webb bleeding and she had swelling
around her eyes.
Mr.
Webb was arrested on the above charges and Mrs. Webb was transported to Homer Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.
Claiborne Chamber of Commerce cake
auction a success
The Guardian-Journal photos/Jenni
Williams
Pictured at left, Steve Koskie, with the
Chamber of Commerce, shows off the next baked item up for bid at last week’s
auction. Above Sheriff Ken Bailey shows off his five-layer “Death by Chocolate”
creation he won by bidding just $100.
JENNI WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
Last
Thursday’s annual Claiborne Chamber of Commerce Cake Auction brought many
locals, sporting their sweet tooth, out during their lunch break to help raise
money for the Chamber.
The
auction is a yearly event in which area residents and business people donate
baked items to be auctioned off in an effort to raise funds to maintain the
Chamber of Commerce.
Members
of the board kept the event moving smoothly, along with auctioneer Wesley
Emerson. Board member Nicole Ware recorded the sales, while J.T. Taylor, John
Watson, Lisa Ledbetter and Chic Hines showed the next item for bid and located
bidders as paddles were raised.
Board
member Steven Lewis manned the registration table while other members kept the
bidding/event going. Those members were Dan Ware, Galen White, Janell Brown,
Dwayne Woodard, Pete Pearson and Cynthia Steele.
The
sweet treats were gobbled up as table after table of bidders egged each other
along, at one point, raising the bid on Marcy Copeland’s Dark Chocolate Truffle
Red Velvet cake. The final bid for this confection was a whopping $155.
Many
area businesses played a large part in the success of the event. Those making
donations were Brookshire’s of Homer, Coca Cola Bottling of Minden, the Town of
Homer, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and Uppercrust Catering, which
provided a delicious dinner of brisket sandwich plates.
“Without
the support of the locals, this event wouldn’t be possible,” Executive Director
Watson said of the event.
Butterfly Festival seeks entries
The
12th annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies to be held September 11 at
the Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds in Haynesville is seeking vendors, parade
participants, and entries for the nature photography and container gardening
contests.
Contact
the following for information and application forms:
VENDORS
Pat
Bourn, (318) 624-1216; 3647 Hwy 2 Alt, Haynesville, LA 71038; or LeBois Sincox,
(318) 624-0661; 2087 Dogwood Drive, Haynesville, LA 71038.
PARADE
Linda Knox,
(318) 624-1606; 2190 Hwy 2 Alt, Haynesville, LA 71038 or .
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Mary
Anna Perryman, (318) 377-1006; 299 Perryman Drive, Dubberly, LA 71024.
CONTAINER GARDENING CONTEST
Beverlee
Killgore, day (318) 624-1122 or evening (318) 624-2432; 2222 Main St., Haynesville , LA 71038 or . An entry must be from your yard
and can feature any type of flowering or foliage plants in a container. First
place will be awarded $100, second $50 and third $25.
For
general information contact Loice Kendrick-Lacy, (870) 234-4910 or (318)
624-1929, 203 Troy, Magnolia, AR 71753 or .
Safety belt violation nets bust
The Guardian-Journal
A seat
belt violation landed a Homer man behind bars after Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Deputies found alleged drugs on his person.
On
Friday, July 30, Deputies J.T. Williams and Roger Ellerbe were patrolling and
stopped a vehicle regarding safety belt regulations. The driver of the vehicle
was William Blake Bailey, 17, of Homer.
Bailey
could not produce a valid driver’s license or registration or proof of
insurance. While conducting a search of Bailey’s person, deputies discovered
two and one half Xanax pills “white bars” inside a clear wrapper of a cigarette
box in his left front blue jean shorts pocket.
Bailey
was arrested and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
He was
charged with no seat belt with bond set at $500, no driver’s license with bond
set at $500, no motor vehicle insurance with bond set at $500, no registration
in vehicle with bond set at $500 and possession of a schedule IV CDS (xanax),
with bond set at $5,000.
K-9 officers certified by NCIA
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Homer Police Officer Shane Huffstetler
and his K-9 Partner “Tig” were certified recently in Level One Narcotics, in
which “Tig” was trained to find drugs like marijuana, methamphetamines, crack
and heroin. Huffstetler and “Tig” were certified by the National Canine
Interdiction Association. Huffstetler will go to the police academy on August
13 for 12 weeks of training to become a POST certified police officer.
