NAACP alleges jail
violated inmate's rights

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
July 20, 2004
The president of the Meridian-Lauderdale County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People charged Monday that the county jail violated the civil rights of an inmate.
Walter Patton said that a 17-year-old inmate allegedly was tied to a pole in the Lauderdale County jail for 30 to 45 minutes on March 25. Patton charged that Kim Reece, the jail administrator, was ultimately responsible.
Patton would not identify the inmate; he said the inmate was originally arrested on charges of attempted murder. Patton also would not identify the Jackson law firm that is representing the inmate.
Patton said the law firm and the NAACP conducted an investigation into the incident. But Patton would not give any details about the investigation.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Billie Sollie would not identify the inmate; he said the inmate is no longer in the county jail. The sheriff also would not comment on Patton's allegations because of pending litigation.
Sollie said actions taken by Reece were approved by him. But Sollie would not give details of the actions taken.