Memphis mayor commits to public safety

LITTLE ROCK — Thousands of people visited the Arkansas State Fair this weekend, Oct. 12. Carnival rides and a concert featuring Craig Morgan entertained people this Saturday.

Fair officials say they’re working with local law enforcement agencies to help with security, and are reminding everyone to be prepared to go through a safety checkpoint at the entrance.

Attractions and Entertainment this year include:

• Cherokee Nation Businesses Midway

• The Bud Light Pavillion

• Arkansas Cancer Coalition Family Land

• Steve Landers CDJR Main Stage

• Cherokee Nation Businesses Concert Deck

• Budweiser Concert Deck

• Hiland Hill Family Park

• Youth Talent & Beauty Queen Competitions

• The Farm Bureau Arts & Crafts Building The Arkansas State Fair will be going on every day through Sunday, Oct. 20.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Working to improve public safety, newly re-elected Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland recently outlined his vision for making the community safer.

“As I travel across our city, I get asked this question frequently: ‘What are you doing to reduce gun violence?’” Strickland said. “Well, we’re attacking this headon.”

Stickland offered “a list of some of what we’re doing”:

• Continuing aggressive federal prosecution of felons in possession of handguns in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office

• Serving as a leader in exploiting forensic ballistic evidence to solve shootings through the National Integrated Ballistic Network

• Participating in our third year of the U.S. Department of Justice Public Safety Partnership to reduce violent crime

• Continuing Crime Gun Intelligence Center, one of the few in the nation with this type of center

• Continuing ATF Strike Force with 10 agents assigned to Memphis • Continuing E-Trace – internet-based firearms tracing

• Continuing to seek tougher sentencing – worked with state legislature for tougher sentencing for violent crimes

• Working with state representatives to repeal or change guns in cars laws with the goal of reducing theft from motor vehicles involving guns

• Continuing use of Sky Cop gunshot recognition technology to detect shootings

• Purchasing ShotSpotter gunshot recognition technology thanks to a Smart Policing Initiative $700,000 grant

• Continuing to distribute free gun locks at every MPD precinct and community center “We still have a lot of work to do in this area, but we’re seeing results.

In an effort to continue rebuilding MPD,” said Strickland. “You’ll see on next week’s council agenda an ordinance sponsored by our good friends Councilwoman Gerrie Currie and Councilman Ford Canale to expand the residency requirements for commissioned officers with the Memphis Police and Fire Departments. As it currently stands, all newly-hired police officers and firefighters must live inside the city limits to be employed with these divisions. The proposed ordinance would allow commissioned officers of MPD and MFD to reside within a two-hour window from the city.”

Why does this matter?

“You’ve heard me talk about rebuilding MPD for the last four years. By expanding our residency requirements, we’re increasing the pool of likely candidates, and in turn, increasing our chances of putting more officers on the streets to keep you and your families safe,” Strickland explained. “We’ve been making significant strides over the last two years on our recruitment and hiring, and that’s great. But, we need to do more. This will allow us to do just that.”

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MERIDIAN, Miss. — A DNA test confirms that remains found in a garbage bag in a Mississippi basement were those of a 5-year-old boy.

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler tells The Meridian Star that the state crime lab released results Monday confirming Jakie Toole’s identity. He died from blunt force trauma, with an autopsy finding broken ribs.

The child’s caregiver, 35-year-old Celeste Louise Smith, has told police varying stories about what happened. In one version, Smith told police she beat Toole after he cried during a bath. Toole was disabled and had trouble walking or talking.

Smith is charged with capital murder and child neglect. She’s jailed without bail awaiting indictment.

Toole’s mother, Teasia Warren, is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She left the child with Smith for months.

Originally, last week, Meridian police Chief Benny Dubose told The Meridian Star that the Friday autopsy at the state crime lab found a badly decomposed body with a broken rib on one side and cracked ribs on the other. The autopsy also found burns on the body, Dubose said.

Police have charged Smith, of Meridian, with capital murder and two counts of child neglect. She led police to the body Wednesday after another woman reported her 5-year-old son, Jakie Toole, had been missing since April. Police say Smith once took care of the boy and his siblings.

Smith has told authorities that the child was badly burned while she was bathing him, Dubose said.

Smith is jailed without bail and waived a preliminary hearing Monday, meaning the next legal stop for the case is for prosecutors to present it to a grand jury for indictment.

Meridian Municipal Judge Robbie Jones said Smith has stopped cooperating with authorities and isn’t providing any more details about the case.

Arkansas State Fair underway through Oct. 20