SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - He's been investigated for months. He was arrested this week, but Southaven Mayor Greg Davis remains in office. To say things are troubled in Southaven would be an understatement.
Davis was booked into DeSoto County jail on Tuesday, March 27th for traffic violations that include passing a school bus. Those charges are in addition to the months long civil and criminal investigations into how Davis spent city money.
The mayor's arrest is frustrating citizens, who believe he's acting like he's above the law.
"I think this mayor over here kinda does whatever he wants to do," says Liz Medlin.
"He feels like he can do anything he wants to, to anyone he wants to, whenever he wants to," says Linda Selvakunar.
The mayor's arrest this week is doing little to convince people otherwise.
"Nothing he's been doing here lately is right," adds Nicole Ruble.
Davis is out of jail on bond for two traffic misdemeanors. He's charged with passing a stopped school bus and using blue emergency lights.
Davis' personal SUV is equipped with the lights. He's accused of turning them on as he passed a school bus in a Southaven neighborhood last week.
"With the blue lights, maybe he should have become a police officer instead of mayor," says Ruble.
It's illegal for anyone who's not an emergency responder to have those lights. No one in Southaven city government can answer why they're on Davis' car or where they came from.
"I think it's unethical," says Selvakunar.
An attorney general's opinion from 2002 says a mayor is not a law enforcement officer and does not have law enforcement authority, like the ability to stop traffic.
We asked Southaven's police chief about what Davis did. He's not talking because he could be a witness in any trial.
"I don't know if he's gone off the deep end or what, but it seems like everything he's done here lately is out of character," Ruble says. "It's crazy for someone to act like that who's supposed to be over the city. We're supposed to look up to him. He's just acting irrational right now."
The mayor's court date is May 2nd.
