A Miscarriage of Justice, Surely

Opinion by George McClellan:

I am going to depart from my usual dissertations on the corrupt politicians of both political parties at the national level to comment on an equally stupid incident at a local level, right here in Georgia’s 9th Congressional District that is as equally embarrassing.

The ire of my disgust now focuses on the GOP’s local party machinery when it falls into the incapable hands of a nincompoop who made an arbitrary decision at a public event that he thought adversely affected the party. His action constituted a decision far above his pay grade and only served to bring derision to the local GOP. I thought the whole matter had gone away, but no, it resurfaced its ugly head in a continuation of legal nonsense as an exercise in CYA.

I refer to this tawdry business between some unhappy wannabe politician in the Ga. 9th District, and a citizen journalist, one Nydia Tisdale, legal resident of Georgia and an American citizen, that occurred at a public GOP event at Burt’s Farm in Dawson County, Ga. on 23 August 2014.

She, Ms. Tisdale, was arrested for obstructing a police officer in the course of his duty, in this case, her illegal arrest by a Dawson Co. Sheriff’s Deputy on the word of a party affiliated lawyer, an ambulance chaser, who thought she shouldn’t be taking video’s or recording the remarks of Republican speakers while others in the audience were, in fact, taking video’s.

Our GOP lawyer, a mere functionary, took exception to her video taping and allegedly, beseeched the farm owner, Mr. Johnny Burt, to demand she stop filming and leave the premises. Nonsense of course. She resisted being thrown out of the public proceedings by the hired off duty deputy (I can easily exculpate him), and was summarily arrested for trespassing. It is reported they tried to escort her away. Actually they dragged her away but, who’s counting? She claims inappropriate touching by the deputy but that is nonsense too.

Subsequently Ms. Tisdale has sued. That was over one year ago and now we have…. wait for it…A grand Jury decision that found a “true bill” against her for a “misdemeanor charge” of.. obstruction of justice. OMG! In my forty-three years of law enforcement, I never once, ever thought a Grand Jury investigated misdemeanors. I must have been missing something. Grand Juries are empaneled to investigate facts concerning felonies.

The estimable Dawson County Sheriff, Mr. Billy Carlisle said: “I appreciate the citizens who sat on this grand jury, listening to all the evidence and bringing forth a true bill. I look forward to this case working its way on through our courts and hopefully, at the end, we will have a guilty verdict from a jury of our peers.” Fat chance! What else could he say. He wasn’t there!

Dawson County citizens, you really need a sheriff that knows and understands the law. Of course, he’s trying to suppress a $550,000 dollar lawsuit against Dawson Co.Tax Payers. This is no longer the 1940’s. Old time politics don’t work like that anymore. Too many people know the system, know how to use modern technology and and know that decisions like this only make people wonder if Dawson County hasn’t yet matriculated from the Barney fife era.

The States Attorney General would have nothing to do with this case. It’s a hot potato and, like a hand grenade, will blow up in a lot of faces. Give it up boy’s, settle with the lady.

Remember, freedom is the goal, the Constitution is the way. Now, go get ‘em. (21 Nov 2015)