Ellis’ alleged line-cutting launched what she claims is a racially charged dispute between herself, white customers and police, that could land her a 15-year prison sentence for assaulting two officers.  She has since filed a formal written complaint with the NAACP.

Heather Ellis goes on trial in the Dunklin County Circuit Court this month.  Several groups have orchestrated marches on her behalf, including the NAACP.  Their demonstration in the town of Kennet, where the incident occured,  was preceded by written threats, allegedly from the Ku Klux Klan.

Dunklin County Prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff defended Kennet in a local paper, saying there was no proof the KKK was involved and that Ellis’ scuffle  was exaggerated.  But last week, he removed himself from the case “in the hope that this would refocus attention on the facts”.  A special prosecutor has since been appointed.

Ellis, who has rejected plea deals, declined to comment, but her father, Rev. Nathaniel Ellis says:  “Why would you plea bargain if you’re innocent? This is not a matter of justice.  It’s a vendetta.”

Heather Ellis now teaches in Loisianna, where she is ironically about to marry a state trooper.  “What a shame the system can destroy a young person’s future like this, [all] because of bad cops,” she wrote in her NAACP letter.  Hopefully, on November 18, 2009, the true story will be revealed.

A 61-year-old Georgia man named Roger Stephens was held without bail yesterday for slapping a two-year old child at Walmart. Stephens was upset that the child was crying. He warned the mother, Sonya Matthews, that he would “shut that baby up” if Matthews couldn’t stop her daughter’s cries by herself.

When the child continued to cry, Stephens followed through on his threat. He slapped the 2-year-old Paige Matthews “across the face approximately four or five times,” according to the Gwinnett County Police Department report. Of course, the child screamed and cried even more after being assaulted, but Stephens said to the mother, “See, I told you I would shut her up.” He was arrested for felony cruelty to children and held without bond at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.

Ok, so as a parent and a member of society: What? Was this guy stoned or just stupid?! I cannot imagine any person repeatedly slapping a small child.

(As the mother of a former crying two year old: that was such a hard situation out in public with an inconsolable child, just trying to get through it without stares and comments…)

Now, as a bail bondsman, I fear that call from this guys’ relatives who say, “There must be a mistake. My brother would never behave that way…” You get the picture; yup, it comes with the territory. Then, spending 30 minutes or more explaining why there’s no bail.

Ok, really pushing my buttons: I hate Walmart. (It’s my mother’s favorite store, BTW.) Not that there’s anything innately wrong with Walmart, but I’d rather eat a bug than even have to navigate the parking lot. Then you get inside to cranky old people and cranky two year olds.

But still, will this guy have a psych eval?

Photocredit: © Mehmet Dilsiz – Fotolia.com