TYLER TEXAS IS ANOTHER TENAHA TEXAS WITH CROOKED COPS 

 

 

Since the Pandora’s Box of the crooked Cops of the rural South and other small cities and Towns in the South I decided to re-publish this disturbing article. This incident occurred in 2003.  This story should be (but isn’t) an isolated story to any person of color who travels I-20, east or west.  I have been told numerous stories, and experienced one personally, whereby, a rural (or should I say small-town) police deputy makes a traffic stop for no apparent reason…except for the reason that you are a person of color.

 

On April 29, 2003, between the hours of 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Black Filmmaker/Producer and Actor Patrick McKnight was traveling with his cousin, Kennedy Armstrong, from Atlanta, Georgia to Dallas, Texas on I-20 west.  Mr. McKnight was en route to Dallas to film a commercial and video.  During this trip, Mr. Armstrong was pulled over by a Smith County Sheriff’s deputy in Tyler, Texas.  When Mr. Armstrong asked the deputy the reason he had been stopped, the deputy replied that Mr. Armstrong was driving too close behind an 18-wheeler truck.  The deputy went on to add that, usually when a car is so close to a truck, it is following a load of drugs.  The deputy never radioed ahead to his station, nor did he stop the 18-wheeler that Mr. Armstrong was supposed to be traveling too close to, and which he felt was carrying drugs.

 

During this stop, the deputy requested Mr. McKnight’s driver license.  Mr. McKnight gave the deputy his license, along with the rental car contract, which was in Mr. McKnight’s name.  The deputy ran both men’s licenses and found neither to have any warrants.  The deputy then returned and gave Mr. Armstrong a warning ticket.  At that time, the deputy inquired of Mr. McKnight’s destination and Mr. McKnight responded that he was going to Dallas to do a film.  He also informed the deputy that he was a filmmaker and produced a copy of his current featured film rated PG-13, which was filmed in Dallas.  The deputy then asked Mr. McKnight if he had any drugs.  Mr. McKnight responded that he did not. The deputy then inquired if he could search Mr. McKnight’s vehicle and Mr. McKnight replied yes.  The deputy searched the vehicle but found nothing.  He then searched Mr. Armstrong’s travel bag and found marijuana residue, i.e., dust or seed. Mr. Armstrong identified the bag as his own.

 

The deputy continued to harass the two men and Mr. McKnight in particular.  Next, the deputy reached into Mr. McKnight’s pocket, pulled out his money, held it in his hand and asked, “So you are on your way to Dallas to buy drugs?”  Mr. McKnight told him he was on his way to Dallas to do a commercial and video.  The deputy continued his harassment of Mr. McKnight, asking him the same question repeatedly.  Mr. McKnight, in turn, answered the deputy the same.  The deputy searched the car once again and found forty thousand dollars in the dashboard area of the vehicle, at which time he handcuffed Mr. McKnight and asked him where the money came from.  Mr. McKnight told him that he had sold his house in Florida. The deputy didn’t believe Mr. McKnight and attempted to coerce Mr. McKnight into saying that it was drug money and that he was on his way to Dallas to buy drugs.

 

The deputy then contacted the Texas State Troopers.  Upon their arrival, they questioned the men.  Mr. McKnight told the Troopers the same story that he had told the deputy.  The Troopers were more professional and told Mr. McKnight that, basically, they had nothing to do with the incident and that they (The Texas State Troopers) didn’t handle things in the way in which Mr. McKnight explained this deputy’s behavior was.  After their conversation, the Troopers left the scene.

 

The two men were then taken to the station where the deputy continued to ask Mr. McKnight the same questions repeatedly and threatened him with remarks such as, “The DEA and the IRS will be called on this if you don’t tell me the truth.”  Mr. McKnight continued to tell the deputy the truth but the deputy continued to harass him.  After the clear case of injustice ended at the station, the Smith County Sheriff Department seized Mr. McKnight’s money and took him and Mr. Armstrong to the bus station penniless.    Neither was arrested or charged with any crime.  Mr. McKnight produced to us, the original copy of his closing disbursement statement document, which showed that Washington Mutual had paid him the cash amount of $ 51,244.11 on 03/10/2003.  Mr. McKnight also produced a personal bank statement, which showed a transaction of a withdrawal on 04/03/2003 in the amount of $ 44,006.00.  Mr. McKnight explained when, what and where the money came from as well as his intentions for its use.

 

I contacted the Smith County Sheriff Department, on May 01, 2003 at 2:00 pm, in an attempt to get the department’s version of this incident.  I informed the person receptionist of the reason for my call, at which time; I was transferred to the office of Major Lusk.  I introduced myself and explained the reason for my call, at which time I was informed that Major Lusk was at lunch.  Approximately one hour later, I called once again and was informed that Major Lusk was still at lunch, and left another message.  I never received a return call from Major Lusk. On May 02, 2003 I contacted Sheriff J. B. Smith, introduced myself, and explained the reason for my call.  Sheriff Smith stated that he would have someone call me back.  In the beginning of our conversation, Sheriff Smith acted as if he had no knowledge of the incident, his ‘good ole boy’ attitude came out, and he stated, “Oh, is this the case where the $43,000.00 was seized, and marijuana was found?”  I corrected him by responding, “No, it was $44,000.00 plus, and marijuana residue was found.”  The Sheriff said, “Oh, we are notifying the IRS about this money,”…the same threatening tactic the deputy had used on Mr. McKnight.  I replied, “Washington Mutual would have done that after the closing from the sale of his home, and they issued Mr. McKnight the cashier’s check.”  The Sheriff responded that he had people in his office, and that Bobby Garmon would be calling me back.

 

Sheriff J. B. Smith called back on May 02, 2003 at 1:20 p.m. and left a message stating, this is Sheriff J. B. Smith down here in Tyler, Texas and we are turning this case over to the District Attorney’s Office.  We will not be releasing any information on this case; you will need to contact the District Attorney’s Office for any information.”

 

After receiving the message, I faxed a letter to the attention of Sheriff Smith, informing him of the facts stated by Mr. McKnight, and that I had reached out to his office to hear their side.  I also explained to Sheriff Smith that we didn’t want to write a bias story, but that all efforts had proven to be unsuccessful.  I’m saying that to say this.  The purpose of Senator Royce West of Texas’ “Racial Profiling Bill” was to prevent the ‘good ole boys’ in small towns from trying to intimidate people of color.  This incident that happened to this young black filmmaker has all the markings of racial profiling.  The one primary question is why didn’t the deputy stop the truck if he felt that drugs were involved?

 

Patrick McKnight filmed a feature in the DFW area that employed crewmembers and national actors/actresses, as well as Texas’ own Burton Gilliam and other local talent. I suppose that Tyler, Texas doesn’t recognize the racial profiling bills.

 

A message to the Smith County Sheriff Department:  There is an organization (I believe it is called the Justice Department), which was put in place for Justice for All.  Please know that not only are the eyes of Texas upon you, but now the eyes of the world.  Mr. McKnight has informed us that he is filing a complaint against the Smith County Sheriff deputy who humiliated him and made him feel like he was living in the 1800’s.  If you, the readers, are wondering why I have not identified the deputy in question, that is because his handwriting wasn’t legible, and I feel that it was purposely poorly written so that it could not be understood.  And, the non-cooperation of Sheriff JB Smith has added to that suspicion.

 

This is a message to everyone traveling through Texas.  If you feel you have been detained because of racial profiling or law enforcement misconduct, you should immediately file a Person Complaint Affidavit Sec. 614.022, with the Agency in which the law enforcement officer is associated with.  In addition, you should contact the Justice Department. Sometimes in small towns, everyone knows everyone, but the Justice Department only knows Justice.  Towns like Tulia, Texas, where 46 people (39 of them black) were arrested on the word of white undercover agent Tom Coleman, and who was indicted on three felony perjury charges alleging he lied while testifying at the hearing.  Out of the 46 people arrested and indicted, only 13 are still jailed as a result of the controversial 1999 bust.  An agreement between defense attorneys and special prosecutors in the Tulia drug cases recommends that the state’s highest appeals court release the remaining 13 on their own recognizance.  If you are in doubt, please contact your local, better yet, National Civil Rights Advocates.

 

It doesn’t matter if you are in Dallas or Paris, Texas, and it doesn’t matter which state or city you are in.  You have civil rights…we all do.  No matter what color we are, we have rights.  Know your rights and protect your rights, when you are in the right… Mr. McKnight did have his day in court in Smith County and loss his money nevertheless. In light of this new investigation maybe Mr. McKnight will receive Justice at last.