Southaven, MS—
FAST FACTS:
- Information to narcotics officers leads to investigation
- Leads point to City IT officer, Clerk's employee
- Both face criminal charges
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Southaven, MS 3/9/2010) A City Department Head in Southaven faces criminal drug charges tonight, along with another city employee.
It's the result of a drug investigation begun by Southaven police several weeks ago.
Southaven police arrested 32-year-old Jason Grant Monday night. Until now, he's been the city's Information Technology director.
Officers arrested 30-year-old City Clerk employee Ashley Otts Tuesday morning.
The charges against Grant and Otts, center on the possession of drugs, mostly painkillers, without a prescription.
Grant is said to have been planning to sell those drugs.
Southaven Mayor Greg Davis immediately fired the two, and citizens seem to agree with his actions. "You should get drugs form a pharmacy and not on the street. You don't know what kinda drugs you're gonna get," said Beverly Pollard.
An undercover investigation by Southaven narcotics officers lasted more than a month and led to the arrests of the two.
It shook City Hall to it's very foundation, but Police Chief Tom Long says his investigators played no favorites. "They went exactly where the evidence led them to go, went and made the arrests as necessary and I think it's important that we all understand that it does not matter what your position is, who you work for, we all are accountable to the law," said Police Chief Tom Long.
In a statement released first thing Tuesday, Mayor Davis underscored that belief saying "The City of Southaven will not tolerate criminal activity or behavior in any manner by any employee. Period."
Chief Long says the case probably will stop here. "At this time, the investigation is concluded. We do not feel there's any more involvement, we'll be pressing any charges against anybody else." he said.
And citizens here believe the city made the right call, from the investigation, to the arrests, to the firings. "They got to e held accountable for what they do so I don't think it should be anything different because like I say, by them being city employees, they're held to a higher standard," said Pollard.
Maybe so. The two will face indictment by a DeSoto Grand Jury, and likely a trial in Circuit Court.
Other arrests are possible, but as Chief Long said, they're not seen as terribly likely, and probably not from at City Hall.
