🚨Case Dismissed!🚨

DISCLAIMER: You can’t make this stuff up.

CLF client James Johnson, a law enforcement officer in the Delta, was pulled over in Montgomery County because the headlight was out on his rented UHaul. During the traffic stop, Mr. Johnson told the officer that he too was a police officer, having worked in the past in Ruleville, Tutweiler, and Shelby.

This was apparently the wrong thing to say. The detaining Winona PD officer, instead of giving a warning, ticket, or assisting with the problem, says “prove it”. He demands Mr. Johnson prove he is a law enforcement officer then and there on the side of the road. Mr. Johnson cannot.

Mr. Johnson was arrested on the spot for Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer on January 8, 2025, and made to post a $4,755.00 bond.

After he bonds out, Mr. Johnson then provided the City of Winona proof that he was in fact a law enforcement officer by providing a copy of his LEO Certification and a pay stub from the City of Shelby.

Though this should conclude the matter, it does not.

Instead of accepting this as proof and dismissing the misdemeanor charge of Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer, the City of Winona DOUBLED DOWN and charged Mr. Johnson with the felony crime of Tampering With Physical Evidence.

This is because the pay stub that Johnson provided was from January 2025, but the Shelby city board minutes reflected he was not hired until February 2025.

Winona PD alleged that the January pay stub must be fraudulent. Winona PD would not accept the fact that law enforcement officers get hired and get paid at small towns all across this state PRIOR to being officially hired at a board meeting in the city minutes.

When a police chief needs help, he doesn’t have to wait for a board that meets once a month. Citizens who need law enforcement protection do not have to wait either. Police chiefs have authority to hire on a probationary temp basis prior to approval by a city board. This is common knowledge.

Yet - an Investigstor in Winona took the case to grand jury and indicted Mr. Johnson for the felony crime of Tampering with Physical Evidence.

Mr. Johnson was then made to post a $25,000 bond.

All through trying to prove he was indeed a law enforcement officer, Mr Johnson now finds himself (1) under a pending felony indictment and (2) has his law enforcement certification suspended - due to a pending felony indictment.

Mr. Johnson called our firm for help. He called the right place.

Though it took a year, and specifically thanks to the advocacy of managing partner atty Jessica Carr, we were able to get all felony charges dismissed WITH PREJUDICE.

Now it is time to go to work to repair Mr. Johnson’s certification. Which we will.

If you or a loved one have a pending criminal accusation, please consider calling Carr Law Firm at 662-441-1529.

We work for Justice. We get results.