Indianola city code enforcers removed five “abandoned vehicles” from a property on Wiggins Road this past Tuesday, prompting allegations that the removal violated legal procedures and due process.
Property owner Jerry Tripplett told The Enterprise-Tocsin that he was not properly notified before his vehicles were taken.
On April 22, Solid Waste Officer Antonio Livingston and City Inspector Jamal Mayfield enforced a city adjudication order in the 200 block of Wiggins Road—Tripplett’s residence—removing the five vehicles.
Officials say the vehicles were abandoned and in violation of local codes.
However, Tripplett contends that he was not given the legally required seven-day notice before his vehicles were removed. When asked by The E-T whether proper notice was provided, Tripplett responded, “No, they did not give me any prior warning.”
The law governing municipal clean-up actions mandates that property owners be notified at least seven days before any vehicle or debris removal, with notices posted both on the property and at city hall.
The relevant ordinance states: “For subsequent cleaning within the one-year period after the date of the hearing, upon seven (7) days’ notice posted both on the property or parcel of land adjudicated in need of cleaning and at city hall or another place in the municipality where such notices are generally posted, a municipality may reenter the property or parcel of land to maintain cleanliness without further notice or hearing no more than six (6) times in any twelve-month period…”
Tripplett showed The E-T a notice that he received last year, dated Oct. 9, 2024, which informed him of a scheduled hearing on Oct. 28, 2024. He claims no such notice was posted prior to the vehicle removal on April 22, 2025, raising questions about whether the city followed its own procedures.
Tripplett alleges that the city failed to adhere to the legal process, specifically the posting of the seven-day notice, which is a statutory requirement under Mississippi law. He asserts that without proper notification, the removal was unlawful and could be challenged.
“I wasn’t notified at all,” he said. “They just showed up and took my cars without warning. That’s not how the law works.”
When contacted, Livingston maintained that all procedures had been followed, claiming notices had been posted as required.
However, it is the same notice Tripplett referenced. On October 10, 2024, city officials placed a sign in the yard and also posted a copy at city hall.
City Inspector Mayfield provided photographs of the notice placed in the yard, stamped and dated October 10, 2024. Additionally, a notice around the same time was posted at city hall and remains there.
The situation escalated when Tripplett confronted the towing crew, leading to a tense exchange.
An Indianola police officer at the scene intervened and warned Tripplett that he would be taken into custody if he did not comply.
The officer radioed for backup, and only one additional officer arrived shortly thereafter.
The backup officer assisted in calming the situation. No further incidents occurred after the second officer arrived.
Minutes from the October 28, 2024, city board meeting show that the board approved a 90-day period—until Jan. 27, 2025—for Tripplett to remove all inoperable or abandoned vehicles from the property.
The minutes note that Tripplett was present at the meeting and that the city granted him this time to address the issue before further action was taken.
