Webster County residents react to Sheriff’s arrest

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – It didn’t take long for word to get out in Webster County about Sheriff Tim Mitchell’s arrest.

It’s not just the arrest that has people in Webster County talking — It’s the number of charges that Sheriff Mitchell is facing.

Many people say the situation should have been handled a long time ago.

It’s less than a week before Christmas, but in downtown Eupora, locals aren’t focused on the holiday.

Instead, they’re focused on the man they elected as their top law officer.

“12 counts? Them are a lot of charges for a Sheriff. You’d think he was supposed to be protecting the city but he’s destroying the city,” said Sabria Brown.

A small crowd gathered outside the Webster County Jail House Wednesday morning — many people shaking their heads in disapproval.

“I thought Eupora’s Sheriff or the jailhouse was strict. You don’t think that the Sheriff would bring this inside of the jailhouse for an inmate,” said Brown.

Others just needed to vent.

“They know these guys growing up that they are crooked, and they still bring them in. They vote them in. In this small town it’s all about ‘well if your last name is this we’ll let you go,” said Brian Hoffman.

Even though most of the people outside the jailhouse said they are disappointed, many also said they aren’t surprised.

“If they let him get by with doing all of that I’m pretty sure they knew he was doing it in there. They knew. That’s how all of them was getting good jobs,” said Lisa Jones.

And under the surface, there seems to be bigger issues.

Some people here say in the past, justice has been dispensed based on class and color.

“But us as ‘Afro-American’s — We didn’t have a chance. No chance in hell. So I’m glad,” said Carolyn Burchfield.

“If you had a bunch of black AND white people out here- you’d show solidarity. But because a lot of these folks know Tim Mitchell, and he’s white, and I’m speaking the truth, They aren’t going to come out here and be like ‘Oh, Tim you suck,'” said Hoffman.

Hoffman also said real change needs to come from the outside.

“You have to bring someone in that nobody knows to be Sheriff,” said Hoffman.

The Webster County Board of Supervisors will meet on December 26 in a special called meeting.

It is expected they will discuss appointing a new sheriff at that time.