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What started as a simple request to interview a Mississippi mayor escalated into a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit when Police Chief Nick McLendon decided that journalism was grounds for arrest. The footage reveals a disturbing pattern of constitutional violations that left one reporter fighting for his life in a hospital emergency room.
The Investigation That Triggered an Arrest
Investigative journalist Ron Durbin traveled to Pearl, Mississippi to follow up on reports about Police Chief Nick McLendon's alleged connections to officers involved in the notorious Mississippi "Goon Squad" torture case. Six former officers had recently been sentenced to 15 to 45 years in prison for the assault and torture of two Black men, and McLendon's name kept surfacing in complaints from local residents.
When Durbin entered the city hall to request an interview with the mayor and file a public records request, he encountered an assistant who refused to speak on camera. She immediately fled to summon Chief McLendon, setting in motion a chain of events that would expose the very corruption Durbin had come to investigate.
When Asking Questions Becomes a Crime
The confrontation between Durbin and McLendon was captured entirely on video. After the mayor's assistant complained about being filmed, McLendon arrived and demanded Durbin leave the building. When Durbin asked if this was "under threat of arrest," McLendon confirmed it was an order and proceeded to arrest him for trespassing in a public building.
The arrest occurred in an open hallway of city hall, where McLendon had just admitted Durbin was legally allowed to film. No restricted access signs were posted, and the door to the mayor's office stood open to the public. Under established case law, government buildings must clearly mark restricted areas, making the arrest legally questionable from the start.
A Medical Emergency in the Heat
What happened next transformed a questionable arrest into something far more serious. Officers held Durbin outside in 90-degree heat for nearly an hour while waiting for a judge to issue a warrant. Durbin, who has documented heart problems, began experiencing a medical emergency as his condition deteriorated in the prolonged detention.
The video shows Durbin sweating profusely and struggling with chest pains while McLendon mocked his distress. When a viewer called an ambulance, officers initially resisted allowing medical treatment, with one officer suggesting they would "medically clear" Durbin and then immediately transport him to jail.
The Hospital Harassment That Crossed Every Line
In a bizarre twist that may have violated federal healthcare privacy laws, officers made a calculated decision to "un-arrest" Durbin to avoid paying his hospital bills, then immediately assigned two officers to follow him through the medical facility. The surveillance continued throughout his treatment, with hospital staff inexplicably allowing uniformed officers to monitor a patient who was no longer under arrest.
Medical staff disclosed Durbin's private health information to the officers during his treatment. The stress of being followed and harassed while seeking emergency medical care worsened his condition and extended his hospital stay, creating additional damages that the city would ultimately be forced to cover.
The Arrest That Happened in the Wrong City
When Durbin was finally discharged from the hospital, officers arrested him again in the parking lot. There was one problem: the hospital sat outside Pearl's jurisdiction, meaning McLendon's officers had no legal authority to make the arrest. The jurisdictional violation added another layer to what was becoming a textbook case of civil rights violations.
A judge set Durbin's bail at $220,000 for misdemeanor charges, an amount four times higher than anything in his legal career. The excessive bail appeared designed to keep him in jail rather than ensure his appearance in court, raising additional constitutional concerns about his treatment.
The $7.5 Million Lawsuit
The full video reveals crucial details about McLendon's response when confronted about his department's practices and shows the complete medical emergency that officers ignored. Durbin has filed a $7.5 million federal lawsuit against Chief McLendon, the officers involved, the City of Pearl, and St. Dominic's Hospital, but the final outcome of his case depends on evidence that can only be seen in the complete footage.
