SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - Bush league, nitpicky and a waste of time. That's what the lawyer for Southaven Mayor Greg Davis has to say about the mayor's arrest for two misdemeanor traffic violations.
Davis is charged with passing a stopped school bus and using official emergency lights to do it. He was booked into the DeSoto County Jail on Tuesday, March 27th and is set to be in court in May.
The mayor isn't talking about his upcoming court appearance, but his attorney isn't short on words.
"This whole thing smells rotten," says Steve Farese.
Farese says Davis only passed the school bus to pull over another driver who drove by it first.
"The issue is do any citizens have the right to stop someone from doing a dangerous act? I think they do," he tells abc24.com.
But what do citizens think?
"I think he was wrong for it," says Horace Jones. "He's not a law figure, just the mayor."
"It's kinda strange," says Reginald Smith. "He's not a police officer, but he's still the mayor. As of right now, he's still the mayor."
In Mississippi, an attorney general's opinion states it's against the law for a mayor to act like a cop. A different law says it's also illegal for citizens to use the same lights as cops.
"[The mayor] goes on fire calls and helps direct traffic at accidents if he comes up on them. He assists in any way he can. He's on duty 24 hours a day," Farese says.
Farese adds there are at least three witnesses who can testify on Davis' behalf. He's confident the charges won't stick.
"You have to use common sense. This is nitpicking at its worst."
"I think it's kinda picky," says Jackie Winters. "But he's kinda in the media right now."
"The way things have been going for him lately? It doesn't surprise me any," says Horace Jones.
"You can make up any argument you want to throw rocks at the mayor, which is what everyone has done, but fact of matter is this is bush league," says Farese.
