Complaint Review: Williamson County Courthouse

At 12:45 pm Sunday, August 15, 2004 my daughter-in-law, called and said I needed to go to the Johnston City Dairy Queen because my son's ex-wife had called the Johnston City Police, in particular an Officer Tony Kendrick because my son had mentioned the name of someone she didn't want to talk about. Since she did not want to discuss that topic, she called Officer Kendrick to come up to the DQ. (My son has court appointed visits with his minor child every Sunday between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.)

My husband and I drove up to the DQ and parked in the front space with the front of the truck facing Northeast apx. 60 feet from the entrance to the DQ. We started walking towards the DQ and my son motioned from inside for us to remain outside. So we walked back and stood in front of our truck. I then decided to take a picture of the five people who were sitting in the Northeast sunroom. The people were:
My son who was sitting.
Officer Tony Kendrick standing up between my son and his ex-wife and his child.
My son's ex-mother-in-law and the mother of my son's ex-wife, sitting.
My son's ex-wife, sitting.
My son's minor child who was sitting on her mother's lap. (Age 6)

Immediately after I snapped the picture, Officer Kendrick stomped out of the DQ and ask, What did you just do?. I told him, I took a picture. He said, Give me that camera, it's against the law to take my picture, it's illegal. Then my husband took the camera and put it behind his back and told the officer, No. Officer Kendrick then shoved my husband while reaching around my husband's back trying to reach the camera and said, If you don't give me that camera right now, I'll arrest you both! The officer grabbed the camera and turned around to go back to the DQ. Just then, my son, who had witnessed Officer Kendrick shoving my husband, came out and when Officer Kendrick saw him out there he said, Your visit has been terminated, you walked out of the visit!

Officer Kendrick escorted my son's ex-wife, her mother, and his minor child out of the DQ and to their car. He then walked over to where my son's motorcycle was parked and started yelling at my son. He finally went back to his car and left.

After they left I called the State Police at 618-542-2171 and spoke with an Officer Melvin who told me that it was not illegal to take a picture of Officer Kendrick and that my Civil Rights had been violated. He also asked if Officer Kendrick had given me a receipt for the camera and I told him he had not. Officer Melvin told me to take a third party unrelated to the incident and go with me to the Johnston City Police Station and ask for my camera back.

Before going to the JCPD we went to the home of John Meyers, who is the Chief of Police at Johnston City. (He was on vacation.) We informed him of the incident that transpired at the DQ and he said he would make a call.

We then went up to the JCPD, myself, my husband, and a third party. When we went into the JCPD and I told Officer Kendrick I wanted my camera back he said he destroyed it. This was said in the presence of myself, my husband, the third party, and an officer from the County Sheriffs Office, Officer Searls.

We then went back to John Meyers and told him that Officer Kendrick had destroyed the camera.

So far I have not had any further news, but I have contacted the media.

Hi All,
If you are sure that there is a strong possibility that there might be corruption within the court, then you might want to consider contacting the US Attorney and FBI.

It is very difficult to investigate feelings. If you have facts such as names and dates then you can clearly detail them out and maybe get some help.

Here is a link to the new story of our County DA and his being convicted...
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_17161262.shtml

It wasn't easy for them to get Paulus. They had to have cops willing to put themselves on the line, and ADA who was willing to notify the US Attorney and wear a wire. It also took Paulus losing the election for County DA...

I don't know if these officals are elected, but if they are, do your best to make sure that they aren't re-elected.

Good Luck

Johnston City is run by a bunch of crazy people. I've been to town meetings time and time again and they never fail to show their stupidity. I don't know what you can do about suing them. Depends on what exactly they did.