Explanation For Missing McGill DUI
Scott Stewart editor of the Pulaski Citizen has given a very reasoned and acceptable explanation for his paper having missed reporting on the DUI arrest of Tax Assessor Steve McGill.
Basically the problem seems to have stemmed from a combination of complacency, lack of staff and resources for which Mr. Stewart has apologized and committed to do better.
In past dealings with Mr. Stewart I have found him to be an honest, upfront man who has tried very hard to be open and fair in his operation of the newspaper. I find no reason to question his explanation or integrity as his explanation is very plausible and his integrity has been proven many times over.
Allen Barrett
Basically the problem seems to have stemmed from a combination of complacency, lack of staff and resources for which Mr. Stewart has apologized and committed to do better.
In past dealings with Mr. Stewart I have found him to be an honest, upfront man who has tried very hard to be open and fair in his operation of the newspaper. I find no reason to question his explanation or integrity as his explanation is very plausible and his integrity has been proven many times over.
Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 12:26 PM
59 Comments:
I think the man has enough troubles without poking sticks at him. Let the law take its course & let it go at that.
He isn't walking around his office stoned or drunk & to my knowledge hasn't been a huge embarassment to anyone.
From a morals & ethics standpoint, I have infinitely more respect for a drunk than a liar, fully recognizing that one indiscretion of either act does not earn the title of either a drunk or a liar. Neither of those can measure up to the worthless scoundrel status of a book cooker.
Let's get our priorities straight.
Had the wreck resulted in the death of your wife and child by this drunk driver I wonder if you would have the attitude of "Leave him alone".
to: Thursday, January 21, 2010 11:37:00 AM
Ever hear the saying , " if a frog had wings, etc". This would probably be a better blog IF you found a new hobby.
4:15 Your post is totally irresponsible and comes over as if you are thumbing your nose at law abiding citizens.
Thursday, January 21, 2010 5:27:00 PM- think what you may - because you are the type of person that only sees 1 side - your side.
Not to pick a fight, but our DUI laws are extremely severe. Legal costs will be well over $1,000. Then there are the fines, insurance increases, embarassment, and more things than one can count.
If it's not a first offense, it gets geometrically worse. If you have ever had a wreck, it is very easy to be disoriented, physically impaired and worse, whether zero alcohol or drugs, one sip, or completely intoxicated! There are "black outs", mini strokes, seizure, medication, and near countless other things that can cause relatively instant loss of control. He will automatically pay dearly for not taking the alcohol test.
The primary thing we must not forget is the guarantee that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, a right many US citizens have died for, to protect it!
If you kill someone while DUI, they add homicide to it, and that is serious jail time. One way or the other, fortunately no one was hurt but himself, guilty or innocent.
The law is well equipped to handle this situation. Guilty or innocent, he will pay dearly. It isn't like he molested a child, shot someone, held up a beer joint, or ripped the county taxpayers off for a million bucks so he could strut around the square like a peacock hunting a mate. Vigilence is always good, bate is a distructive force.
bate should be hate
Mr. Barrett:
Since you proclaim yourself a man of God, why don't you go try to convert Mr. McGill rather than try to crucify him on this blog? Have you ever thought about that? As someone else said, why not let the law deal with him and stop poking sticks at him?
8:15 I dont see a post by Mr Barrett on this thread. To what do you refer?
9:42
I am referring to the negative comments he made in the thread topic. He questions Mr. McGill's integrity. I question his.
Teagle says to 6:07
You must have been one of McGill's supporters when he last ran for tax assessor, bless his heart. At that time some of us said that McGill was no good, self centered and only cared about what was good for himself. He smoked in his office, showed up to work discheveled and unshaven, and was hungover many times. He parked his ride whereever he wanted and basicaly did not give a damn.
He now again shows his true character. How many times do we ignore that very plain fact that McGill is useless? This County needs someone who is fair and honest (not only to themself but to everyone)as a tax assessor. The tax records are very out of date. I know for a fact that he has not updated my property tax data for over eight years. Why? he does not get out of his vehicle and walk around to see if improvements have been made. He is LAZY! McGill again has shown what type of person he really is and it is about time all of us recognize the fact that he is not tax assessor material.
To 6:07 Your sarcasm is noted as well as your accuracy both are way off base. This thread was about Scott Stewart and the Newspapers coverage of the McGill incident. The only comment about integrity was directed in support of Mr. Stewart. Allen Barrett
6:07 Learn to read before talking.
Oh sorry, he/she can't tell one topic from the other, bet he/she dreams of a night about how he can belittle WAB.
10:22
That's a lie. But I will admit that I misread what the reporter said.
6:53 Which goes to show you pop off your mouth especially against WAB and anyone you consider 'malcontent' and you cant even keep on track.
11:54
At least I am willing to admit when I make a mistake...unlike some people I know.
Thank goodness Mr. Barrett checks and double checks his information before he comments on it. I think for your sake you should leave this blog and never return. We do not like having misinformed people spouting off their propaganda here. We only deal in the facts. Thank you for playing, now you're dismissed.
11:56
Who are the "we" you refer to? Is this not a "free speech" blog? I may be dismissed? Can you see any arrogance in your thinking? Oh, and thank you for stroking barrett's ego. He thrives on that you know.
This is posted on the Giles Sheriff Dept. Website:
ROBERT STEVE MCGILL Current Age: 59
Weight: 200 Height: 6' 1''
Eye Color: HAZ Hair Color: BRO
Sex: M Race: W
Address: PULASKI, TN
Arrest Date: 1/20/2010
Arresting Officer: BOAZ Badge #: 2808
Arresting Agency: GILES CO S.D.
Booked Date: 1/20/2010 07:55
Release Date: 1/20/2010 09:08
Class: PRE MISD
Notice the date!
http://www.gilessd.com/
Is the website!!! Check it out for yourself!
I thought he was arrested in May, has he been arrested again this past week?
A picture is there for Robert Steve McGill, is that the tax man?
"TAX MAN" it is....WOW...looks like he didn't learn a lesson when arrested in May...MADD put our your claws!! You have new prey!!! Go get him!!!!
Wonder how WAB missed this....
You would be surprised who shows up on this site!
to 11:37 he ia not on my computer for that date. What was the reason given?
Any chance he went to court Jan 20 for what happen before?
3:49,
I just looked on the 20th of January and Robert Steve McGill was arrested by officer Boaz for DUI and other charges...shows he was arrested and bailed out the same day! So the original post about this was correct.
5:16,
Why would the arrest date be in January 2010 if it happened in May 2009, That doesn't make any sense at all!
Cant find the correct page on the sheriff's dept page to verify this .
Please give the full link -or tell us which page it is listed under
Sherlock Who ?
Could it be that he was being processed through the sheriff's department records system for his arrest last May .
Remember , according to last weeks newspaper he hadnt been put in the county's system having been arrested by the THP in May .so maybe they are catching up ?
7:05:
Sherlock who says: all you have to do is know how to research inmates by dateson the site listed.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist..it's there..maybe you can find someone to operate the computer for you!!
Apparently 6:12 found the site, maybe he/she is a little smarter than you.
Sherlock
What happened in January of this year was simply processing into the jail as a result of the Grand Jury findings. There are no new charges only the official execution of those charges that had been sent to the Grand Jury. Allen Barrett
WAB,
Thank you for clarifying that!!!!
Looked to see if he was arrested in May and it didn't show that he was!!! Is that procedure...
12:48 The answer to your question (and more) is in last week's local newspaper.
This is the narrative from Trooper Briggs official Arrest/Criminal Interdiction Report.
"On the above date, I was dispatched to a crash with injury on highway 31 north. Driver refused medical treatment. Driver requested Gerald's wrecker. Vehicle was towed. driver was heavily intoxicated and was carried to my patrol car by two rescue members. Driver said he would submit to a BAC. Driver was handcuffed and seatbelted and transported to Hillside. Driver refused BAC. Driver requested medical treatment. Driver was cited into court for violations. Driver remained at Hillside due to medical"
Apparently, there was no incarceration in May because Mr. McGee was admitted into Hillside hospital. I have been told it is the discretion of the arresting officer whether a person is taken to jail, or simply required to appear in court. Allen Barrett
Hmmmmmmm...sounds a little fishy to me!!!
Did not see the paper...what did it say?
Go to Giles News web site. Click on News, then Recent News. Its dated Jan. 19th. Hardcopy newspaper also had a large Editorial on the subject, dont know if thats on the web site too.
Can he (McGill) be ousted for his drunked behavior?
He could be ousted by the County Commission Ethics Committee if they chose to do so. If they choose not to pursue the problem which seems to be the mind set, they would be compelled to look into the matter if a complaint was made to them by a member of the public. This would have to be done whether or not he was found guilty as charged. Could also happen through a small petition by the people but in order to do that the people would be required to set aside enough funds to cover court costs etc if he was found not guilty.
If he's found not quilty want that be a slam on the officer that went to the wreck?
If prescribes drugs can cause someone to do that they didn't need to be driving.
Here’s how it works. After the accident Mr. McGill got medical treatment. State law says after three hours after a suspected DUI the driver has to be issued a citation and not arrested. Mr. McGill appeared in general sessions court and the charges were sent to the grand jury. The grand jury sent down indictments on the charges and Mr. McGill had to be booked in to the Giles county jail on the indictments. When an indictment is issued for a charge where a citation was issued the offender must post a bond after being arrested on the indictment. That’s why he is on the web site now and is not when the accident happened.
When is McGill in court.
McGill must of got a free pass, I don't hear anymore about him.
Is that the way it goes in Giles County?
Yes. Why do you think people are trying so hard to improve things around here?
....or trying so hard to be in charge?
When someone disagrees with what an elected official does, it doesn't mean they are trying to run things. They are just trying to point out what is wron and hope for a change.
You have a big problem. I hope it doesn't turn out like the college in Huntsville.
1:14
Look, nobody said there was anything wrong with questioning an official or pointing out something they might disagree with. But the 'problem" I have is with the constant attacks and name-calling. That's a different matter, you know.
Go back throught THIS thread, not the others and show me where someone was called a name.
I'm not saying it's not there, I just didn't see it.
I didn't say it was on this particular thread. But I personally have been called everything from an anal buffoon to dumbo...simply because I point out that attacks and smear tactics are just flat wrong and shameful.
They just enjoy making you mad.
I don't think anyone should call anyone a name, but guess they just get so mad at you.
Don't the Bible say something about turning the other cheek?
If you didn't always come back so quick maybe they would stop.
Here is a simple question for the person who is so concerned with name calling. Should McGill who has admitted to at least being drunk in public be allowed to remain in the position of tax assessor?
To 9:34
NO!
9:11 and 7:27
Why are we continuing to pay him such a high salary, plus the benefits for this kind of behavior.
to 9:11
I think you could be right about what these people do. I was just considering how futile it is to ask them to stop the attacks and name-calling. They feel justified in doing so and yet completely intolerant of criticism or opposing views.
I realize that it's never going to stop until the one who started all this mess either moves out of town or comes to a realization that it's wrong to torment others.
So thank you for the post.
Another option might be to give him a job in city or county government and then maybe he will stop.
I think they should give him an office right next to yours, and then you could watch over him all the time. Then at night you could follow him home and make sure he gets there all right and doesn't give any wild parties that you don't know about.
A jury trial has been set for McGill on Thursday, March 25, by Judge R. L. Jones.
Anybody going to hear it?
McGill sneaked into court and pleaded guilty to DUI according to the paper.
Does that mean he will have to resign from tax assessor? I think he should.
If he is smart he will. He is a goner I'm afraid..
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