JPD responds to officer arrest

A Jackson police officer was accused of trying to solicit a minor for sex.

TRYING TO SOLICIT A MINOR FORSEX.THE OFFICER HAS BEEN ARRESTEDANDCHARGED.BUT THE ATTORNEY FOR THE ACCUSERQUESTIONING TONIGHT THE WAY THECASE ISBEING HANDLED.

JACKSON POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTEDFELLOW OFFICER MARK COLEMAN ONSATURDAY.HE'S CHARGED WITH EXPLOITATIONOF A MINOR.JPD CHIEF JAMES DAVIS SAYS THISIS THE RESULTOF AN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING ARUNAWAYREPORTED MISSING BY HER MOTHERIN APRIL.IT WAS AFTER MR. COLEMANENCOUNTERED THIS CHILD WHILECARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES THATHE'SCHARGED TO CARRY OUT BY THEJACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT THATHE SET HIS SIGHTS ON THIS CHILDTHE ATTORNEY FOR THE MINOR, LISAROSS, SAYSAT SOME POINT, THE OFFICERBOUGHT THEMINOR A CELLPHONE.THE CELL PHONE WAS THE DEVICETHAT HE WAS USING TO ATTEMPTTO LURE THE CHILD SO THAT SHEWOULD MEET HIM FORWE FOUND ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO MAKEAN ARREST AND THAT'S WHAT WEDID.

FROM THAT,WE'RE OUT OF IT.

THE CASE GOESTOA GRAND JURY.ROSS SAYS SHE BELIEVES COLEMANISGETTING SPECIAL TREATMENT DUE TOHISSTATUS AS A POLICE OFFICER.

SHEWANTS ANSWERS FROM CHIEF DAVIS.WHO IN YOUR DEPARTMENT CALLEDTHE JUDGE AND ASKED THE JUDGE TORELEASE THIS MAN ON ANUNSECURED BONDWE DON'T DEAL WITH BONDS AND ITRY NOT TO GET INTO THE BONDBUSINESS.THE CHIEF SAYS HIS DEPARTMENTFOLLOWEDPROTOCOL IN HANDLING THE ARRESTOF ANOFFICER.AT NO TIME ARE WE GOING TO COVERUP ANYTHING UNDER ANY CASES.UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

CHIEFDAVIS - FIGHTING BACK AGAINSTWHAT HECALLS SPECUALTION.ALLOW US TO DO OUR JOB INSTEADOF SPECULATE.

WHEN YOUSPECULATE, YOU DISTURB THE WHOLECOMMUNITY ONFALSE INFORMATION.

COLEMAN IS CURRENTLY ONADMINISTRATIVELEAVE.HE WAS RELEASED ON AN UNSECUREDBOND OF50-THOUSAND DOLLARS.THE JUDGE ALSO ISSUED AN ORDERTODAY,BANNING COLEMAN FROM CONTACTINGTHETEENAGER OR HER FAMILY.

NEW TONIGHT...A CARTHAGE MAN IS BEHIND BARSTONIGHTFOR TRYING TO OUTRUN MADISONPOLI