How’s this for a track record? “Justin Bates [above] beat and kicked Dickey until he died, then repeatedly told another man not to call police, an Arkansas State Police corporal wrote in the affidavit. Bates was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Bates’ prison record [reveals] more than a dozen disciplinary violations, several of which were violent in nature, according to correction spokeswoman Shea Wilson. His last disciplinary violation was in early 2010 and his last violent violation was in 2007.” This account doesn’t include any prior violations, of course. Anyway, officer.com reports that the Mayor of Everton wanted Bates returned to society. In a 2006 letter to the parole board, Bill Gerdes wrote . . .
Having visited him during his incarceration from time to time I have noticed his progress and a change of atitude, espepecially the last 2 years. I think him and his outlook on life have changed a lot for the better . . .
I have known Justin Bates for approximately 15 years, known of his problem and what he was incarcerated for. I have no problem at all with him returning to this small town of Everton, Ark. if he so wishes.
He so wished. Wrong answer, for both men. harrisondaily.com:
Boone County Sheriff Danny Hickman said [Mayor] Gerdes was shot with a .30-30 rifle outside Bates’ fathers’ residence there Wednesday night around 6 p.m.
Hickman said Gerdes was shot in the back and left hand. He was airlifted to St. John’s Regional Health Center where he was listed in “critical” condition.
Hickman said Bates, who had been paroled from prison within the last year, barricaded himself inside the residence and held officers at bay for about seven hours until an Arkansas State Police Special Response Team took him into custody, shooting him five times with bean bag ammunition while he was still armed.
Seems like a waste of perfectly good beans to me. Just sayin’ . . .