Eavesdropping in Lawrence County?
Bugged about FBI probe
Most commissioners want meeting to discuss investigation
By Nancy Glasscock
MOULTON — Lawrence County Commission Chairman
Bradley Cross refused to call an emergency
meeting Monday, against the wishes of a majority
of the commission, commissioners said.
District 2 commissioner John Terry said the
majority wanted to hold an emergency meeting to
discuss an FBI investigation of the commission
offices, after FBI agents seized an apparent bugging system late last week.
"He didn't really think there was any sense in having a meeting," Terry said.
Terry said Friday he was surprised by the
discovery of the bugging system and didn't know
why someone would want to spy on county officials.
Several FBI agents interviewed County
Administrator Linda Harville, Assistant County
Administrator Karen Harrison, and four
commissioners at the commission building Friday
after seizing a clock radio bought at the Alabama
Spy Shop from the commission office Thursday night.
Spying in room?
The bugged office is a private room used by all
commissioners. FBI agents also seized the
following items from Harrison's office Thursday
night: seven video cassettes, a digital display
12-channel receiver, one power supply,
audio-visual cables, coaxial cable and a receipt
and purchase order from Alabama Spy Shop for the clock radio.
Friday, Cross said he didn't know why the FBI was
interviewing commissioners and that the matter
had been "blown out of proportion."
Attempts to reach Cross for comment Monday were
unsuccessful. He was reportedly in the commission
office briefly with the office door closed.
Harrison and Harville were not in their offices
Monday afternoon. Harville was in her office earlier in the day.
District 1 Commissioner Mose Jones Jr. said he
doesn't know why someone would bug the commission
office "unless they're trying to bribe or set up a commissioner."
"Why would they go and do such an evil, conniving act?" he asked.
Jones said he told Cross the commission should
discuss the investigation in public, but Cross
refused to call a meeting. Jones formerly served as commission chairman.
"If I had been the chairman and the majority of
the commission wanted an emergency meeting
called, I'd have called one because there's
nothing to hide," he said. "That's why I want the
meeting called, so all the commissioners can be
in there, so we can sit down and talk about it in
a public meeting. ... So far, (Cross) has refused
to call an emergency meeting. I don't know why he's refused."
District 5 Commissioner Alma Whitlow, who was out
of town last week, said she was shocked to learn
the commission office was under investigation by
the FBI. Whitlow said she wants to hold a
commission meeting to discuss the investigation,
but that Cross was opposed to holding a meeting.
"He didn't think we should have a meeting,"
Whitlow said. "He said the FBI was investigating
and we didn't need to do anything right now."
Whitlow said she doesn't know why anyone would
want to place a hidden camera in the commission office.
"I'd like to know more about the situation, and I
don't know if there is anymore at this point,"
she said. "I feel like we probably should have a meeting at some point."
According to Alabama Open Meeting laws for county
commissions, a commission chairman is the only
member of the commission who can waive the
required five-day notice and call an emergency meeting.
Monday, commissioners were preparing a written
request to hold a special meeting.
"There's really not a provision in the law for
the members of the body to call an emergency
meeting," said Sonny Brasfield, assistant
executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.
"The members can call a special meeting, but an
emergency meeting must be called by the chairman."
Cecil Caine, the county's attorney, said Monday
afternoon that Cross probably wouldn't call an emergency meeting.
"Based on my conversations with the chairman, I
don't think he's going to," Caine said.
Terry said late Monday the commission will hold a special meeting later.
"We're trying to get that pulled together
tonight," he said. "We've got the vote to have a
meeting, now we have to wait five days."
Jones said the main reason he wants to hold a
meeting is to hear all sides of the issue.
"That is the reason I want to talk to the parties
or whoever put it in there and find out why they
wanted to do it, and why they didn't contact me
or any other commissioner and let us know they'd
put something in there. That, to me, is conniving and evil."
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Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:23 CST