Letter To the editor

I read the article in the Panolian as well as the letter to the editor about the Ridge Simmerman arrest. I have done some investigating of my own about this situation. I am a retired  firefighter and am appalled at the actions of these two officers who have taken an oath to serve their community.

It is my understanding that Ridge Simmerman was with two adults while at Walgreens on that fateful night. The two adults were told by the officers to get in their car and keep their mouths shut; they were not allowed to offer any explanation. Had the adults been allowed to explain, the officers would have learned that one of the adults had asked Ridge and his friends to go into Walgreens and purchase the toilet paper. 

 The officers put the child in the back of a patrol car, NO seat belt secured, and drove erratically while in route to the station. Is this the action of a caring, service-oriented professional?  Suppose this was your child; how would you react? And why was only Ridge arrested? There were other children in the Walgreens parking lot at the time. Why did the officers discriminate?

This case is very simple. We have police officers who suffer from the God syndrome. They believe their authority is absolute. Obviously they don’t know, so I will tell them: This type of law enforcement went out with King John and the Magna Carta in the 13th Century. To them, the constitution and civil rights are just things that get in the way, and must be overlooked for the greater good. Well, our rights ARE the greater good.  Is it possible Batesville police officers could be so ignorant as to believe that to be in possession of toilet paper is a crime? Everyone, please hurry to your bathrooms, and hide the evidence.

 Lee Hammett
West Memphis