Indianola citizens who initiate charges against an accused felon and later change their mind after police man-hours and taxpayer money have been expended may soon find a bill from the city in their mailbox.
At Monday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting police chief Edrick Hall asked the city fathers to consider imposing a fee on dropped felony charges, the likes of the one levied in municipal court for complainants who drop misdemeanor charges.
By way of example, Hall said if a person is accused of a robbery, identified and arrested and stays in jail several days, only to have the accuser drop the charges, his department has subsequently lost possibly a week’s worth of time putting a case file together in addition to the $35 per day the city has to pay for having the person incarcerated.
“And we don’t get any of that money back,” Hall said.
Hall said his investigators put a lot of time into building the cases and sometimes have to be called in and/or put in overtime, only to have the victim drop the charges. Hall said the district attorney won’t take a case without a victim, “And we cant make them prosecute, so the city has lost their money and time spent,” said Hall.
Alderman Dana Myrick questioned who Hall intended to charge.
“I think they should go toward the victim because the victim is the one who initiated it,” Hall said.
He maintained that the officers would have been working on the victim’s behalf because they are the ones who requested charges be filed.
Hall contends that in many cases the suspect will contact the victim and offer them money to drop the charges, “And that money is being paid under the table, so they exchange money with each other,” Hall said. Mayor Steve Rosenthal injected that it also allows another criminal to stay on the streets.
Alderman Carver Randle Jr. concurred with Hall and Rosenthal and believes restitution is warranted. Hall recounted a recent case where one person pressed charges on another family member for stealing a firearm from him and when police found the suspect and recovered the property the victim refused to carryout the process, stating that he was only trying to make a point, “We’re not a recovery agency,” said Hall.
Alderman Gary Fratesi asked Hall to bring recommendations back to the board and Randle suggested that he consult with other agencies to see how they handle similar actions.
In other business,
The board heard and received departmental reports including the police department, which reported 2,318 calls for the months of September and October. They also attested to 133 arrests, of which 87 were felony arrests with five currently active warrants and 11 refusals to prosecute. In the breakdown by zone, Hall said zone 4 still is receiving the bulk of the calls because it encompasses Walmart and the number of shoplifters is still on the rise.
He also cautioned citizens to be more alert because they often see an increase in robberies and thefts during this time of year.
The aldermen voted to abandon and sell as surplus, a 500 feet by 15 feet alley that runs behind the homes between East and West Elmwood Circle north of US 82. Wade Inc. is preparing for an expansion and would like to purchase the plot to facilitate easier ingress and egress to their farm equipment showroom, a need brought on by wider equipment, “We’re landlocked in that area and we need that additional space to be able to turn the equipment” said James Braxton, operator of the facility.
He appeared before the board to make the request. The property must be advertised and bid on before sold with a minimum bid of $3,750 plus any other associated costs. Attorney Gary Austin said the parcel should be sold as a single piece.
The board also decided to amend a city ordinance that provided that the police chief be the sole individual responsible for approving requests for protests and marches. Hall said this ordinance should mimic the one for parades, which require three department heads to signoff on and be approved by the board.
After emerging from executive session, the board voted to hire a new water maintenance worker, a new police officer and a new firefighter, plus accept the resignation of another firefighter.
