The Clarke County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Monday.
Ann Miller Robinson, mother of Casey Dunigan who was shot and killed by law enforcement on May 21, 2020, addressed the board of Supervisors about the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department and the service she has received. She also provided documents related to the case and photos of her son’s body.
“I feel like since I am going public, I owe it to the county to tell you what you’re in for,” said Robinson to the board. “Bear with me, this is painful.”
Mrs. Ann’s story to the board:
“Lt. Roger Moore told me my son did not fire a shot. Since then, everything I have had told to me has been misinformation or a lie. I was told my son was shot once in the chest from the front. If you look at the pages I gave you, the paramedic report shows he was shot once in the shoulder and no exit wound. If you look at my pictures, you will see five shots, two shots perfectly in both shoulders from the back, one across the head, one in the left arm and one in the left side.
I took these pictures. I touched my child. You cannot imagine what it felt like when I walked in and saw him. I was told one shot in the chest in a confrontation. I asked the sheriff standing in my living room what kind of confrontation. A verbal confrontation. You kill someone for arguing with you? He was supposed to be running through the woods on our family property. I don’t know of anyone running through a thick wooded area that can shoot you perfectly in both shoulders, through his left arm, breaking the bone, and the so called kill shot through his heart and lungs.
Nobody has had to account for this. MBI told me my son had been shot once through the chest. You’re telling me the same lie I heard from the sheriff. I went and looked at my child. I touched my child. I took 42 pictures of my child. Coroner Greg Fairchild gave me a copy of the preliminary autopsy that stated my son was shot multiple times.
I respect good and honest law enforcement. I support law enforcement that is reasonable. Somebody has to answer. I don’t have any confidence at this point in the justice system. It’s time people realize you don’t get to be judge, jury and executioner.”
“We understand that an investigation is going on,” said President Lorenzo Carter. “I want to extend my sympathies on behalf of the board.”
Note: The Clarke County Sheriff’s Department cannot comment on the case due to the investigation. The Mississippi Bureau of investigations is currently investigating the case.
After heated discussion, the board approved an extension on the contract with ComSouth over the new 911 system. Supervisor Joel Speed was unhappy with the contract and had many questions about specifications listed in the contract. ComSouth had previously requested the contract be changed to give them 150 days after the installation of the tower, not 150 days from the signing date. They cannot finish their part of the system until the tower is in place. Jackson Comm will have the tower equipment on location November 20 and will be done building the tower within 45 days of that date.
The board voted to hire Slade Barnett with Professional Security Innovations of Waynesboro, MS, on a contract job with the new installation of the 911 system at the EMA building. Barnett came highly recommended by ComSouth.
Election Commissioner Bill Avera brought to the board that Mississippi is changing voting machines, which means Clarke County may have to purchase new machines in 2021. The new machines for Clarke County could cost up to $275,000. The current machines were bought by the state and have been used for 16 years. It’s possible the state will do a bulk purchase and give the counties machines at a cheaper rate.
Mr. Collier, director of the Multi Community Agency, spoke to the board about their services. Over $370,000 was spent in Clarke County this year to help with rent and utilities, food boxes, and to run the office in the courthouse. Next year we are going to look at building houses in Clarke County through the USDA. We need our county supervisors to support us. He expressed concern about the supervisors moving the food box delivery to the Multi Purpose Building instead of behind the courthouse.
Newt Ishee from Mid-Mississippi and the Clarke County Economic Development board met with supervisors to update them on the current situations in the county. Supervisor Mickey Long stated the City of Quitman met a record amount of sales taxes paid in August with the biggest amount ever in the history of Quitman. Ishee stated unemployment is down due to covid.
The Cane Creek Solar project for Clarke County was approved two months ago by the Public Service Commission. Ishee met with the Cane Creek developers last week. It will be an 80 megawatt solar facility near Pachuta. If everything comes together, they will start construction next year with starting operation in 2023.
In other actions, the board approved:
• for Christy King to travel to a state livestock show
• for the sheriff’s department to hire Tracy Young on a part time basis
• the contract for the new tower from Jackson Comm for the 911 office at Clarke County Emergency Management building
• relocating the E-911 mapping office from Church Street to the Clarke County Emergency Management building. The new office will open on December 1.
• making an agreement with Credos Fabrication on their rent due to covid
• appointing Lorenzo Carter as audit representative
• for David Bonner to attend certification classes for assistant coroner
• to purchase a safety restraint chair for mental patients when needed
Bids were advertised to sell a Caterpillar motorgrader. No bids were received, so the board voted to surplus the equipment and send to auction.
County board meetings are held every first and third Mondays of the month at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors meeting room. Meetings are open to the public.
