A lawsuit has been filed against a former Greenwood police detective, alleging civil rights violations stemming from a May 2016 arrest.
Jelani Barr, most recently a Democratic candidate for mayor, filed the lawsuit in Leflore County Circuit Court on Thursday, naming former detective Perry L. Hines as defendant.
Under state law, Barr claims he was falsely arrested, falsely imprisoned and the victim of malicious prosecution. Under federal law, Barr claims his rights under the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment and 14th Amendment were violated.
Attorneys Ron Lewis of Oxford and Tom Calhoun of Greenwood are representing Barr. The lawsuit asks for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
In the early morning hours of May 29, 2016, Barr was videotaping Greenwood police officers who were stopping vehicles near Sam Leach Park.
According to the filing, when Barr asked why the park was closed, Hines replied, “for the safety of the public using the park.”
It is alleged that Hines, who now resides in Little Rock, Arkansas, incorrectly told Barr that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that police are not to be videotaped while conducting their official duties.
Hines, according to the lawsuit, ordered Barr to leave and told him he was “going to sign papers on him.”
Barr, as he was leaving, called Hines a “‘dumb ass’ and told him to get his facts straight,” the filing stated. Barr was then arrested and Hines filed a formal charge of public profanity against him.
On June 15, 2016, Greenwood Municipal Judge Carlos Palmer dismissed the case against Barr.
In 2015, Barr sued the city for a similar incident in which he videotaped officers conducting an unrelated traffic stop. During that incident Barr was charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with police business.
In that case, the city of Greenwood, former Lt. Randy A. Powell and Sgt. Michael T. Hoskins were named as defendants.
The case was settled out of court.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
