JERICHO, AR - The more we learn about what's going on in the small town of Jericho, Arkansas, the more questions we have. The mayor and city council got together this morning in what residents are calling a "secret meeting." Nearly two weeks ago, Jericho police officers shot the town's fire chief in court.
We were told the Jericho mayor was having a secret meeting with city council, but by the time we got to city hall, the doors were already locked. No one is talking.
We went to Mayor Helen Adams' home, but she slammed the door in our face. We wanted to know what the meeting was about.
“I would have like to have been a part of it. I know about my son,” said Eddie Mae Payne.
Two weeks ago, a Jericho police officer shot Eddie Mae Payne's son, Don, while he was arguing a traffic ticket in the Jericho Town Hall, which is also used as the courthouse.
“Obviously there needs to be some investigation into what's going on into the Jericho police department,” said attorney Randy Fishman.
Fishman is Don Payne's attorney and says his office is looking into the shooting. He says someone has some explaining to do.
“We are not getting any information out of Crittenden County right now. It's forthcoming. I like to say, you can run, but you can't hide,” Fishman said.
The Crittenden County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting. A spokesperson says the Jericho police department has been disbanded until the investigation is over.
“When you have a police department has been disbanded, and the judge has quit, you have to wonder what has gone on over there,” Fishman said.
We tried numerous times to talk with the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department, no one returned our calls.
Fishman says they haven't decided if they will file a civil lawsuit, yet. He says he is waiting to see if criminal charges will be filed.
Payne is still in the hospital recovering.
The Crittenden County Sheriff's Department has not released the name of the officer who fired the shot, even to Payne's attorney. Investigators did tell us, a bullet also grazed one officer's hand. So far, no charges have been filed.
