McGehee Police Officer Cleared In Drew County Circuit Court
Published by Joe Burgess April 8th, 2008 in Police /Legal.Sgt. Ben Hines, of the McGehee Police Dept. was involved in an altercation at the All-Star Sports Bar in Monticello, back in February of 2007.
Since then, a case has been working it’s way through the Drew County Court System, where he was accused of “reckless use of force causing physical injury”.
Seven or eight witness came to the stand, with each one tell a similar story, but each being slightly different, led the court (and those in the courtroom) to the impression that Hines only was attempting to break up a fight that was taking place in his presence.
Judge Sam Pope described Sgt. Hines actions as “justified”, bringing the case to a close.
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Ben so glad you got found not guilty. You were just doing what you are trained to do as an officer.
I was a witness to this incident and feel that there was no justice! Any man, police officer or not, that throws a woman across a room should be punished. It is not acceptable and the trial was very biased. But that is small town, isn’t it???
I was there, and he did NOT throw anyone anywhere. If he would’ve, one of the court witnesses would have collaborated her testimony, and their stories all vary, so I have heard.
Get over it, he won, it’s done.
I was not at the scene of the fight, but I listened to each witness who testified. Both sides presented at least 3-4 witnesses. Most of them said that they saw only part of the altercation, and weren’t sure about the rest, or left the scene.
Actually, the victim, as well as A.A., (one by seinging, one by scratching) were acused of starting the “events” by approximately the same number of witnesses.
The only person who said the victim did anything more the fall backwards because she was pushed, was the victim herself, who also said that she was “knocked out”, but imediately regained her wits. No one else, beside her said they saw him “on top” of her, assaulting her, but “beside her, on the floor.”
If “pushed” or “shoved” were to have been demonstrated, it may have made a difference in the outcome.
An officer is trained to walk between the participants, and push outward. If this is not what happened, was not brought out in court. Another thing that wasn’t said was if he placed both hands on the lady and shoved her. I don’t know, but if that were the case, it would have shown that one party “being separated” recieved more “force” than the other party. But again, that wasn’t asked to be explained.
Joe Burgess
MonticelloLive.com
i suggest staying out of bars. the terms ‘bar fight’ or ‘bar room brawl’ didnt come from a disagreement at a church gathering. It amazes me how people can go to a seedy club in the middle of nowhere america, drink, get drunk and get into fights and expect anything but this kind of mess to happen. i mean its not like there is a dress code for these places.
The old saying ‘if you lay down with a dog with fleas, dont be mad when you get some fleas on you’ comes to mind.
Police officer or not, if you hang out at these trashy places, there is a certain risk you take when you walk through the door. Expect it, know it will eventually happen and dont complain about it when it does.
I was not there either but just listening to the facts presented it seems to me that this situation was handled properly from the standpoint that no one was seriously injured from this altercation. If Mr. Hines had not been there, I have to believe that this could have been much worse, since he is experinced in dealing with this type of behavior. Anytime a bunch of people are at a bar drinking late, things almost always tend to get ugly for some people. I recomend whoever the person that started this altercation try to be aware what your actions may result to. After all don’t we go to these places to have a good time and get your mind off work or just to have a relaxing time. It’s the people that can”t controll their selves that ruin it for everybody. Why Can’t We Just All Get Along… Come on people control your selves and everybody can just have a good time.
I dont know what bar you were in but the one i was in there was no woman throwed across the room.
I also am confused with what bar you, Concerned, were attending the evening of this altercation… I am a bartender at the All Star Sports Club and did not witness who STARTED this fight, NOR DO I CARE; however, the bar I was working in had no women or anything else thrown across the room that evening. I
I could care less who dilikes who, who hit who, who started what…but I think it is really sad that a few people in Monticello have provided us nice places to go and have a drink without having to go out of town and some people go in these establishments and fight. We have all done or said things we wish we would not have done or said…My advice to those who choose to enjoy these establishments, check your problems, your pasts, and your attitudes at the door and come in and have a nice time and let others do the same. You have no idea how the “drama” effects the bartenders and the club owners.
if he threw someone across the room,then how come he’s not in jail,point is,don’t bark about what you think you seen unless you know for sure.
long story short,HUSH
Like I said Walt its a bar. Those things happen there. The cops get calls all the time to go to BARS because they are BARS and people get drunk, dance and fight. Its a BAR for goodness sake.
Just a thought….but….would this be such a big deal if it DIDN’T involve an off duty police officer?
Apparently there is a misconception here, Mr. Hines was not called to break up a fight as an officer, he & his wife were in there drinking & his wife butted into an altercation that did not concern her, therefore Mr. Hines involved himself as well. Just 2 weeks ago, Mr. Hines & his wife were at the River (BAR) drinking and attempted to cause an altercation there as well. Ain’t it funny what was left out in court.
I don’t ususally respond to things such as this but I can’t help it this time. I was in the courtroom the day of the ruling and there was a horrible injustice commited to the victim. Let’s not forget that Mr. Hines has already been found guilty in one court of law, by the way, he showed his true colors in there. Where was Monticello Live when that happened? I guess that verdict is just overlooked now that he has hired himself a good lawyer and left the victim with a Prosecuting Attorney who Mr. Hines used to work with. Wouldn’t that be considered a conflict of interest? The PA never even met with the victim or any of her witnesses prior to the court appearance, Is that considered a fair trial? He also didn’t know one witness from the next, failed to question one witness and didn’t even call one who had been subpoened to testify. I guess that is a fair trial also. I personally saw the victim following the attack and I can assure you that her injuries were not consistant with a police officer simply breaking up a “Cat” fight. Do you think that any of that was brought before the judge, of course not. Apparently many out there are under the assumption that Mr. Hines was simply a Police Officer on duty that night, let me clarify this for you, He was at the bar drinking and partying with friends, not an officer doing his duties. There was an altercation between the victim and someone else and Mr. Hines’ Wife felt compelled to include hereself in the incident and Mr. Hines, being her husband, jumped in on her behalf. If there was not excessive force used, then why was the victim the only one injured? Do you really think that after consuming alcohol that he was thinking like a rational police officer, I think not, He was acting as a husband taking up for his wife. Mr. Hines also told the victim that the charges filed against him would never stick, guess he was right. I am not including my name to this because he also told the victim that when he became a police officer in Monticello, that she and her kids would pay dearly for her accusation, I just don’t won’t my family to deal with that burden. He was right on the outcome of the verdict, who’s to say he want put her and her family through hell? I have only one thing to say to Mr. Hines justice did not prevail in the Monticello courtroom but you face a much bigger Judge and he already knows that perjury was commited and there is no excuse good enough for God. Good luck with that Judge, Your going to need it.
Officers are supposed to step up when necessary, on duty or not. And NO, nothing happened between Ben and anyone at the River. I was there with them, following Hasty’s engagement party. Ben had to work the next morning, and left quite early, actually. (Which has NOTHING to do with the case at hand anyway)
If a judge called it justified, and closed the case, why are these slanderous comments being posted? It’s said and done. Don’t make monticellolive a gossip grapevine, keep it as NEWS, not hearsay.
First of all this is turning into a gossip column. The real victom here is Ben Hines. Joe you said yourself that none of Susies own witnesses stories came close to matching hers. These comments against Ben is nothing more than slander. He is a man who looks to do the right thing first, I can’t say that Susie has ever been known for that. I can guarantee that there is alot more people that would vouch for Ben than would stand up in court and testify that these stories being put out about him has any truth to them. Ben in fact did break up the fight that Susie started and Susie did in fact fall down but to say that he beat her, hit her or anything other that pushed them apart and she fell is a lie. I think Ben Hines will do just fine when it’s time to be judged by God. I think that everyone should worry about themselves when it comes time to be judged by God.