A police experience

My own personal story about the actions of the City of Roswell Police Department.

I have my own personal story about the treatment I received by the city of Roswell back in 2000.

First off a little back ground on my history in Roswell. In June of 1999 I was involved in a drug bust through a store I owned which was a small packaging and shipping business. I had rented a mail box to a couple of mexicans who spoke little english. After renting the mailbox I noticed that they never got any mail but would always get the same type of package. It was always fed ex from Californian. They were always waiting around the time of the delivery of the fed ex truck.

After noticing this for a few months I grew suspicious and the next time the fed ex driver dropped the package off I told her my suspicions. She called her supervisor and the package was taken back onto the truck. Sure enough the mexicans came looking for their package. I of course made a good excuses and told them the package was not on the truck but check back the next day.

Later that day I got a call from the fedex location.....sure enough they put the dogs on the package and whalah...drugs.....So a the drug unit of Roswell communicated with me and an operation was set for the next day.

The next day the package was delivered and soon the mexicans showed up. My heart was pounding as I played it cool telling them the package had arrived. As I walked to the back of the store to where the package was I winked to the officer standing behind the doorway. The deal was on!

I carefully and nicely handed them the package and they were fine. They walked towards the door. As soon ass they went out the door the officer in the back ran to the front of the store and was drawing his weapon busting out the door as three or four police cars pulled up. Soon it was over and the mexicans known as mules were hauled off to jail.

My heart had been pounding the whole time wondering what if this went bad and they pulled a weapon on me and did not believe me the whole time. I could have been taken to the back of my store and executed for doing what I did. Even after they went to jail I wondered if there would be repercussions for my actions. What if the drug dealers really in charge put out a hit on me? Lucky for me nothing ever came from my actions. I took the risk to do what I felt was the right thing.

Soon after this event I got a letter from the chief of police commending me for doing what I did. I was so proud to have made a difference in this world and doing the right thing for the good of the community and the kids around the neighborhood. $100,000 of marijuana was not going to hit the streets because of my efforts!

Fast forward to February 2001 not even 8 months later. I was on my way to try and cash a check that had bounced for $850 from a client. I had to go to the clients bank right about the time my store opened. I knew I would be late opening but hopefully the check would be good.

I was not far from my store when I came upon a road block where the police of Roswell were checking driver's licences. All of the sudden I realized I did not have my new tag sticker. I knew I was in trouble but figured the worst that could happen would be that I would get a ticket. There went part of my $850. It is tough when you work for yourself trying to keep up with all the bills.

So I pulled up and sure enough the female officer standing took one look and motioned me to pull over to a side road. Uh oh....I knew the ticket was coming. Not being one to be idle I picked up a wall street journal and started reading. Soon the officer came up to my truck and asked for my driver's license. I gave it to her and she went to her motorcycle. She then came back and looked in my window and asked me if I had a gun.

I was puzzled. A gun...why would she ask that? Was it my Georgia State Flag Tag on the front of my pickup truck with the Confederate Cross? Or the Sons of Confederate Veterans tag on the back? Did she have a grudge against anything Southern?

I looked at her and paused in disbelief and said no.......She then told me that my license had been suspended. I had just paid a ticket I got for $20 for not wearing a seat belt in South Carolina. I had picked up my son from a summer camp. I had the receipt for paying the ticket in my brief case and was trying to dig it out. But that did not matter she would not accept what I had told her. (See the newspaper article below where she says she saw a weapons permit......A LIE) So she went back down to her motorcycle.

I wondered what was she up to. Why not just write me a ticket. I watched as she seemed to be contacting someone. Next thing I know another police car shows up. I wondered why they brought a police car down?

All of the sudden the female police officer approached and asked me to get out of my truck. The officer from the police car walked up. She asked me to put my hands behind my back. I thought what? Sure enough I was hand cuffed. By now I was a little upset. I could not believe they were arresting and doing this to me.

Police say they just followed standard procedure!

I was place into the police car. The trip to the Roswell Police station was not a very pleasant experience. How could this be. Didn't they know that I was a small business man who had helped arrest a couple of mexicans and was commended by the chief of police?

No ...none of that mattered. I was taken to jail and was still furious they were doing this to me. All of the sudden I had three beefy police officers around me. They were letting me know who the boss was. They made me take off my glasses, shoes and belt. They then took me to get finger printed......YES finger printed.....a dangerous criminal on their hands.......then the police mug shot....

I was then put in a cell for about three hours. Phone call ...no way.....I had to calm down. Under the circumstances I was not about to calm down what they were doing to me was criminal. Ah but the police had the guns and the numbers so I had no choice.

Finally I was allowed a phone call. As I stood there in the middle of my conversation I mentioned how tough they were when they had you in their control. The guard slammed his finger on the phone and told me I would have to use the pay phone. So I did.

I ended up spending all day in jail in Roswell. Finally at the end of the day I got bonded out. I ended up having my truck towed and the whole episode cost me about $800.

Shortly there after I decided to get the local news involved. I contacted the two newspapers about my story. Only one took me up on the story. The story is above.

Knowing that a story was soon coming out which made the actions by the Roswell Police show them in true character the Roswell Police decided to have their first time ever medal of honor winners on the front page of the same newspaper. How appropriate to try and brunt how they really operate. At least I was able to force their hand!

This whole experience was terrible. My opinion of "law enforcement" was never the same after this. My father told me years ago as a Doctor "There are good doctors and bad ones." Seems the same also applies to law enforcement.


My mug shot below........

From the 100th to the 150th a look at US postal Stamps

The United States Post Office for the 100th Anniversary of the War Between the States issued a series of Postage Stamps from 1961 though 1965. Again now for the 150th the United States Post Office has issued a series of Stamps from 2011 though 2015. This report is meant to show the comparison of both periods of time. At this time the 2015 stamps have not been issued. (Each stamp is from the author's collection except where noted)

1961 vs 2011

The stamp features a coastal gun at Fort Sumter.

For 2011, one stamp depicts the beginning of the war in April 1861 at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, while the other depicts the first major battle of the war three months later at Bull Run, near Manassas, Virginia.

The First Bull Run stamp is a reproduction of a 1964 painting by Sidney E. King titled “The Capture of Rickett’s Battery.” The painting depicts fierce fighting on Henry Hill over an important Union battery during the Battle of First Bull Run.

For the stamp pane’s background image, Jordan used a photograph dated circa 1861 of a Union regiment assembled near Falls Church, Virginia.

1962 vs 2012

Commemorates the heroic stand of both General Albert Johnston's Confederate troops and the Union soldiers Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the fields of Tennessee. The stamp features an infantryman in action.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/420725

First National Confederate Flag on the top right for New Orleans Stamp

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/pga.04031/

On the left the Confederate Flag has been cut off the original painting

One stamp depicts the Battle of New Orleans, which was marked on April 24, 1862, by the heroics of Flag Officer David G. Farragut, soon to become the U.S. Navy’s first full admiral.

The other stamp depicts the Battle of Antietam, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of the North that resulted in the bloodiest day of the war on September 17, 1862.

The background image on the souvenir sheet is a photograph of Union soldiers in the vicinity of Fair Oaks, Virginia, circa June 1862.

1963 vs 2013

 The design depicts Union and Confederate soldiers fighting.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/battle-of-gettysburg-thure-de-thulstrup.html

A Confederate Battle Flag is shown right in the middle of the Gettysburg stamp.

One stamp depicts the Battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle of the war, while the other depicts the Battle of Vicksburg, a complex Union campaign to gain control of the Mississippi River.

The background image on the souvenir sheet is a photograph taken by Mathew Brady shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg of captured Confederate soldiers, who reportedly posed for Brady on Seminary Ridge.

1964 vs 2014

Commemorates the fierce battle between the armies of Grant and Lee that took place in densely wooded terrain near fredericksburg. The design shows artillery in action.

http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=129888

Mobile Bay on bottom left shows several 2nd National Confederate Flags.

One stamp depicts the 22nd United States Colored Troops engaged in the June 15-18, 1864, assault on Petersburg, Virginia, at the beginning of the Petersburg Campaign. The other stamp depicts Admiral David G. Farragut’s fleet at the Battle of Mobile Bay (Alabama) on August 5, 1864.

For the background image on the souvenir sheet, Jordan used a photograph of Battery A, 2nd U.S. Colored Artillery (Light), Department of the Cumberland, 1864.

1965 vs 2015

The stamp features a Civil War soldier and rifles. 

2015 to be released

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Previously for the last reunion of each Confederate and Union a stamp was issued.

May 30, 1951

August 29, 1949

(not from author's collection)

Source for 100th stamps   http://www.collectiblestampsgallery.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MY25

Source for the 150th stamps    http://uspsstamps.com/stamps/series/civil-war-sesquicentennial

75th Anniversary Gone with the Wind at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia

July 27th 2014

Atlanta, Georgia

Gone With the Wind was shown at the Fox theater for the 75th Anniversary of the movie's premiere. I was very pleased that the movie was shown and they even added a second show Saturday night the 26th.

For months leading up to the show at the Fox there were many wondering what was going on as there were very few showings happening across the country. I was concerned when a search of the internet showed almost nothing.

My concerns were well founded as under the current environment in the US. The movie itself was under scrutiny for it's depictions of the old south. I was told that because the movie 12 years a slave had come out it was being used by many as a response to Gone With the Wind.

So I decided to go to the Fox theater to discuss whether the movie was even going to be shown!

I was very please when I met with Shelly Klepsattel and she informed me about the movie and it being scheduled. She even pulled out historical documents on her ancestor who fought with the union. I left very pleased knowing it was going to be shown but was told to keep the announcement under cover.

Once the announcement was made I was able to get tickets.

Gone with the wind has special meaning to many people across the South and the world. For me personally  it meant a lot for many reasons. My GGgrandfather led the 3rd Ga regiment at Gettysburg. Being a native of Atlanta growing up there I had insight into the city and it's history. But the most important reason was my grandmother, Myrtis Corker Bullard. She had told me before she died that she was at the Debutante Ball held during the grand premier of the movie in Atlanta in 1939. She told me that she stood in line greeting the actors!

 Combined with the fact that it was her grandfather who fought the yankees and her memory to me, I held a special passion for the movie.

Paying my respects

 at Margaret Mitchel's grave in Oakwood cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia

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Upon viewing the movie at the fox I took these couple of shots during the show. It really neat to see the movie on the big screen

From the beginning "A land of cavaliers"

Atlanta Railroad scene with the Confederate Battle Flag flying

Most in the audience where white women. Some older some younger. The men were about the same. A wonderful time was held by all!

After the show a good friend of mine Billy Bearden, dressed in uniform, held up a large Confederate Flag with me in front of the Fox in honor of the 75th.

Billy Bearden. 

Many people including children wanted their picture taken with a Confederate Solider!

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Overall the 75th showing of GWTW was a big success. A lot has changed over the years and even a Scarlett look alike does not quite look the same. 

BTW the shock value is not quite what it used to be for this gentleman. I do believe enjoyed seeing the movie. (Sat right in front of us during the movie) 

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The commentary from the press in Atlanta, specifically the Atlanta Journal Constitution is always negative about the Movie. This is to be expected.

A reporter named Erine Suggs of the AJC was given the platform for the official statement regarding gone with the wind from the Occupied Atlanta viewpoint. His article.....

This Atlanta writer is “Done With The Wind”

In this article Mr. Suggs stated how he saw 12 years a slave as a response to GWTW. A response to his article one man wrote "You'd rather be "cleansed" by a movie about a free black man going around murdering white men."

Mr. Suggs should know that my ancestor, Captain Corker of the 3rd Ga, owned slaves. They were well treated.

 From a letter written by a friend to his wife July 28th 1862

 "All send love Black and White to you both and Many kisses to dear little Palmer."

Once captured at Gettysburg from Johnson's Island Union prison, Ohio February 24, 1864

 "Try & keep the servants well clad & fed"

Film critic Armond White called it “torture porn” and accused McQueen of turning slavery into a “horror show”, and of confusing history with brutality, violence and misery. 

A little about Mr. Suggs

Born in Brooklyn,In 2008, Suggs was one of 29 journalists -- only two of whom were African-American -- selected worldwide to become a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. 

Ernie studied in the university’s African and African American Studies. To prepare for a book he is writing, he took courses in literature, religion, black music, black humor, black nationalism and slavery.

Ernie Suggs is a Hot News reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he covers a variety of topics, including race, civil rights, education and ...

Upon seeing Mr. Sugg's article I wrote him to see if a Native Atlantan could offer an opposing position to his article. His response via email.

 Mr. Cooper of the CSA,
Thanks for writing. I appreciate your willingness to engage in this timely topic. I am not sure, however, what having someone from Atlanta write about GWTW does. Being American teaches us that being born somewhere does not make you an expert on that place. I suspect you were born in Atlanta and I would trust your opinion on any other region in the country if it was informed. I have lived here for 17 years. I am very well-read in culture, history and literature. I think I do okay covering Atlanta.

It sure makes a lot of sense for a yankee from Brooklyn to offer an opinion about Gone With the Wind and not someone locally. Most Southerners understand we are just an occupied part of the country with no input allowed on anything about the past.

The best way to portray Mr. Suggs without going further is to post his picture on the right with a fellow carpetbagger. 

So Mr. Suggs you may not allow a native's view point but you must know even after 75 years of the movie's premier and 150 years later after the war....... when it came to the scene in the movie with one of Sherman's bummers........the entire crowd cheered when scarlett shot him in the face.

Oh, I'm a good old rebel

Now thats just what I am

And for this yankee nation

I do no give a damn.

I'm glad I fit (fought) against 'er (her)

I only wish we'd won

I ain't asked any pardon

For anything I've done.

I hates the Yankee nation

And eveything they do

I hates the declaration

Of independence too.

I hates the glorious union

'Tis dripping with our blood

I hates the striped banner

And fit (fought) it all I could.

I rode with Robert E. Lee

For three years there about

Got wounded in four places

And I starved at Pint (Point) Lookout.

I coutch (caught) the roomatism (rheumatism)

Campin' in the snow

But I killed a chance of Yankees

And I'd like to kill some mo'. (more.)

Three hundred thousand Yankees

Is stiff in southern dust

We got three hundred thousand

Before they conquered us.

They died of southern fever

And southern steel and shot

I wish they was three million

Instead of what we got.

I can't take up my musket

And fight 'em down no mo' (more)

But I ain't a-goin' to love 'em (them)

Now that is serten sho. (certain sure.)

And I don't want no pardon

For what I was and am

I won't be reconstructed

And I do not give a damn.

Oh, I'm a good old rebel

Now that's just what I am

And for this Yankee nation

I do no give a damn.

I'm glad I fought against 'er (her)

I only wish we'd won

I ain't asked any pardon

For anything I've done.

I ain't asked any pardon

For anything I've done...