Comments on: Man arrested for “unlawful photography” back in court

By: Scott Conover

Scott Conover — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:28:16 +0000

Carlos,
I read the entire story. You have absolutely summed up our entire real life experiences in Johnson County,TN . I could actually write a book about our life there. While living there , I met a few people that you can really call true life friends. There are really some good people there, that deserve to have better leadership within the county government. Recently, while I was up there, awaiting my arraignment, the newspaper, had a picture of the mayor, that has been running the county /police department forever. In this article, he promised that he would not be running for office again, This is a blessing from God! These people need a change. The police dept. definitely needs to be investigated along with the power hungry individuals that use the police dept. for their individual needs. The true fact is , I was arrested 6 times within a period of 4 years , with charges all being dismissed , with absolutely no merit to them. And now with the 3 new charges, this makes a total of 9 times in 6 years. . I would definitely encourage anyone that is considering moving to Johnson CO. ,TN to a relaxing cabin retreat/ get-away , to reconsider it . I have recently filed a complaint with the US Justice Department, and the Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, and also sent a letter to TN State Senator Bob Corker, pleading for help for these citizens in the county, so that the next Scott Conover will not suffer the repercussions and blatant civil rights violations that I have. I encourage anyone in this county or in any other county, or state, to report civil right violations because they should not be tolerated whatsoever.

By: Pinandpuller

Pinandpuller — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:03:02 +0000

Research the Battle of Athens, it’s along the same lines.

Cops are the same the world over.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:49:36 +0000

Pretty good post. I just came across your site and wanted to say
that I have really enjoyed browsing your posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:08:51 +0000

And how, exactly, is this different than Iran? We’ve got law enforcement officers that literally “don’t like” what you’re doing, yet you’re breaking no law…but arrest you anyway. Don’t worry about that pesky “not breaking the law thing”, the clerics, um, the sheriff will make up a broken law for you.

While you might not get shot at and beat (there’s something), youre reputation and wallet will.

Am I the only person who sees that it’s the SAME thing, just in different clothing?

By: torgeaux

torgeaux — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:00:44 +0000

Rick: That’s the insidious nature of the comments I object to…it makes it too easy to dismiss the whole story. I believe you, but the whole affair could have happened in NYC and no one would have blinked an eye, so the unnecessary references just make me more likely to just ignore the writer as ignorant in general.

By: Rick Bellamy

Rick Bellamy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:05:53 +0000

I couldn’t care less on which side you fall but let me tell you I live in Johnson County and the “law” applies only to those with the lack of balls to confront it. I’m using an alias for the sole purpose of not being sought out, and suffering retaliation. Don’t like the deliverance references that’s fine, I would prefer there be nothing but facts also, but the movie and the handing out of abuse in this county are one in the same.

By: torgeaux

torgeaux — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:20:24 +0000

Sensitive? Not so much. And, since I’m generally a supporter of your position on this site, I think I’ve earned more than a dismissive sniff.

However, if you think that the stereotypes and insults you’ve liberally sprinkled in the story make it more interesting, knock yourself out. It’s your website. Just know that that kind of lack of professionalism hurts your arguments.

By: xdamousex

xdamousex — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:30:10 +0000

BTW, I have personally worked on stories with Darius and Sara in that video. Sure brings back memories.

By: xdamousex

xdamousex — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:28:32 +0000

As a former police reporter who worked in neighboring Sullivan County, I’m well acquainted with how the culture is out there. And coming from a D.C. boy, it is quite backwoods I have to say. I remember coming across the sheriff way out in the boondocks in one of the counties in southwest Virginia who showed off a jar of moonshine he kept in his cabinet that he confiscated from someone. (Don’t think he actually drank it, I think he thinks of it more as a trophy. Although he admitted to drinking moonshine as a youth.)

There’s very much a good-ol-boy atmosphere among sheriff’s departments. Some are good people and some are folks who don’t take kindly to others messing in their business.

A few years back, I remember writing about a town corruption scandal in Appalachia, VA — not far from Johnson County and also in our newspaper’s coverage area. Town officials had offered residents things like bags of pork rinds in exchange for votes, and police were getting gambling kickbacks from local establishments. I was present when the (state troopers? I forgot) made the raids on the town. It made News of the Weird.

It is why I can totally believe Conover’s story, even if he may be embellishing.