Death penalty affirmed for subject who killed Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy

Facts On May 27, 2017, Willie Godbolt arrived at the home of his in-laws, Vincent and Barbara Mitchell, on Lee Drive in Bogue Chitto. Godbolt’s wife, Sheena, was staying with her parents following a separation from Godbolt. Despite warnings from Sheena that she would call the police if he came to the house, Godbolt insisted on […]

There is no false arrest if grand jury indicts person

Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) Maximo Espinal was a security guard at a Houston office building. While on duty one night in 2020, Espinal saw a vehicle pull onto the property. It parked in a “dead end area” in front of a “No Trespassing” sign. Armed with a […]

suspect initiates interview after preliminary hearing

Facts Around five o’clock in the morning on November 25, 2018, residents of Mississippi Street in Grenada reported hearing many gunshots. Witnesses saw a tall, slender man firing shots, and it sounded like more than one person was shooting. At a nearby intersection, Deputy Joey Ward stopped a vehicle that he later learned matched the […]

Allegation of body slam after being handcuffed

Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) Deanna Thomas erected a tent in Laketown Park in Kenner, Louisiana. On April 6, 2020, two officers from the East Jefferson Levee District Police Department—Officer Tewis and Lieutenant Arnold— approached Thomas, explained that she was unlawfully occupying a public space, and told her […]

stop, extension of stop, and search of vehicle proper

Facts In May 2020, Officer Colby Terrell of the Oxford Police Department (OPD) pulled Anthony Smith over on Highway 6 near Old Taylor Road in Oxford. Terrell testified that he observed Smith’s Chevrolet Tahoe veer off the right side of the road. Terrell followed Smith and turned on his dash camera. As they approached Old […]