Fire chief arrested for not paying conviction fines

By Jeremy Pittari
Picayune Item

PICAYUNE, Miss. — Poplarville’s Fire Chief Michael White was arrested Wednesday for failing to pay fines associated with his guilty conviction on a disorderly conduct charge.

According to Justice Court records, a warrant for White’s arrest was signed by Justice Court Judge John Mark Mitchell after White failed to either file for an appeal of his guilty conviction or pay the fines associated with the conviction.

White was convicted of the charge of disorderly conduct on Oct. 25, for to his actions at an accident scene on July 15, where he disagreed with a Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department deputy’s decision to allow a citizen to set upright an overturned vehicle. White eventually had to be put into custody after his actions hindered the cleanup of an accident scene. White cited the possibility of a dangerous situation created by the overturned vehicle at the accident scene because of leaking fluids. The officer working the scene said a citizen would have done nothing different than a tow truck driver would have done to put the vehicle back on its wheels.

In the end, Judge Mitchell found White guilty of the charge of disorderly conduct and ordered him to pay court fines and fees totaling about $423. As with any conviction in Justice Court, White had 30 days to pay the fine or file an appeal. Justice Court records show White never paid those charges, nor did he file for an appeal that would have been heard in Circuit Court.

Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said the warrant was served on White on Wednesday.

Poplarville Mayor Billy Spiers said White’s current legal troubles are expected to be a topic of discussion at the next Poplarville Board of Aldermen’s meeting, but declined to say if the situation would have any effect on White’s employment with the city

Copyright 2012 Picayune Item / Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. (CNHI)

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