Other cities’ cops should watch Soddy-Daisy

As Tennessee high court ventures into letting the constitution be violated but with restrictions, Soddy-Daisy runs a roadblock on New Year’s eve that follows its guidelines. (Photo David Tulis) Soddy-Daisy runs roadblock by the court’s rules, making itself an example for other municipalities and even state government, whose highway patrol flouts the Supreme Court’s dictates […]

Carefully executed Soddy-Daisy roadblocks nab no DUIs

Jeff Gann, acting chief of Soddy Daisy police, holds a hot pizza given his crew by a passing member of the public at a New Year’s Eve roadblock. (Photo David Tulis) The Soddy-Daisy police department runs a roadblock in full compliance with judicial rules requiring high visibility by use of signs, cones and lights. (Photo […]

Melvin relates story of police abuse, courage in standing up for rights

Hanson Melvin relates his story of courageous defiance against an oppressive legal system, starting with officer David Campbell of the Chattanooga police department who in May arrested him, wrote a fictional narrative of why, perjured himself (twice) in official venues, kidnapped and jailed him, and harassed him with other cops 10 minutes after Mr. Hanson […]

Victim of rogue officer asks expungement in botched city case

Hanson Melvin waits in the front lobby of the Hamilton County district attorney’s office prior to an interview with Neal Pinkston regarding perjured statements by an officer leading to his indictment. (Photo David Tulis) The Hixson man who was arrested and indicted for walking in his apartment complex and refusing to state his social security […]

Insurance, state work quietly to make roads more dangerous

John Ballinger stands next to a bit of open roadway. (Photo David Tulis) [He may be just a carpenter, but the Gnome of Strawberry Plains is one whose insights I always consider carefully as he is a miracle worker just like those commoners during “the money wars” in the 1980s who challenged the federal establishment […]

City unpacks new year’s gift for elderly couple: Jail cell

A wall surrounds a fresh-water well on the Thomas and Carol Gaddy property in Dunlap, Tenn., that is often swamped by rainwater runoff from a city-owned lot across the street. (Photo David Tulis) The prospects of relief for Thomas and Carol Gaddy shrank with the issuance of a final order in their property rights case in […]

Dunlap’s 2-year seizure case vs. Gaddys in wrong court

Carol Gaddy, 69, stands on side side of an historic house the Dunlap, Tenn., mayor Dwain Land says is uninhabitable and a danger to the public. It is being remodeled, and all permits required for the work were entered into a two-year lawsuit by the city against Mrs. Gaddy and her husband, Thomas. (Photo David Tulis) The […]

Gaddys’ strong claim in house seizure case: City lacks probable cause

The people in the house above, that of Dunlap’s city attorney Stephen Greer, are trying to “inspect or demolish” the house below, that owned by Thomas and Carol Gaddy, private property owners who are the objects of an administrative and judicial combination.  (Photos Google, David Tulis) The efforts by the city of Dunlap to “inspect” […]

City flings legal net to control house; Gaddys fight for constitutional rights

A logging truck passes in front of the law offices of city attorney Stephen Greer in Dunlap, Tenn. (Photo David Tulis) Dunlap mayor Dwain Land, a big gun lover with several rifles behind him in a glass case, signed the initial sworn civil complaint against the Gaddy family in February 2015. (Photo David Tulis) An […]