Former Hughes police chief in squabble with city resident

Controversy surrounds initial arrest, conduct of officer, city quiet on info

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

HUGHES — A traffic stop and a disagreement between a former police chief and a Highes resident city hall has escalated into a “confrontation,” says the man.

Former Hughes Police Chief Cortez Bowers got into a verbal altercation at with Corey Weems of Hughes last Thursday and there has been animosity brewing ever since.

According to Weems, the issue between the two had been brewing since December after a traffic stop where Weems admitted to having marijuana in his possession.

Weems said the exchange has led to continued issues between the two men.

“It all started December 29th when I was pulled over,” Weems said. “He asked me if I wanted to go to jail or go home. That’s what he did. Of course, I said I want to go home so he took my money or whatever and he uncuffed me and let me go.”

After the incident, Weems accused Bowers of threats and harassment, even assaulting him in custody a month after their initial meeting.

“As soon as I got out of jail, I told him he was going to pay for what he did to me – smacking me while I was in cuffs,” Weems said.

The beef soon made its way to social media where the men began dispararaging each other on Facebook. All this came to a head when Bowers confronted Weems in the Mayor’s Office last week.

While no charges from the series of incidents have been files, a statement taped on the window of Hughes City Hall reads: “At the time of the incident (captured on video on 44-24) Mr. Bowers was formally separated from the City of Hughes Police Department and was no longer inservice as Chief of Police. No further comment will be given on the matter.”

No official reason for Bowers’ dismissal as police chief has been released. He was hired last July and was only on the job a few months.