BROWNING ON BUSINESS Inside, See page 4A ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2014 Tax liens on judicial candidate exceed $550K $178,605 against the law firm, “I don’t even know how to spell Candidate: ‘I think a lot of people owe taxes. according to documents at the tax. You’d have to talk to Tony Lowndes County Chancery about that. I’ve never even The more you make, the more you owe.’ Clerk’s office. The lien is from looked at them.” tax years 1998-2005. The lien Montgomery is married to BY SARAH FOWLER documents. Monique Montgom- ly $120,085 a year. [email protected] was filed at the courthouse in Tony Montgomery, a local min- ery, 48, is running for District 16 Montgomery, September 2013. ister. Monique Montgomery said Circuit Court Judge against in- who owned and When asked about the liens she has no direct involvement The Internal Revenue Service Montgomery has placed liens totaling more cumbent Lee Coleman. The dis- operated Mont- Wednesday, Montgomery said with her family’s finances. than half a million dollars against trict contains Lowndes, Oktibbe- gomery Law she had no knowledge of the situ- “I don’t do anything with the a local candidate running for ha, Clay and Noxubee counties. Firm LLC in Columbus until she ation, saying, “I’m just the wife.” house and stuff like that,” she Circuit Court judge, according The term is four years. The posi- closed the doors in April, has a “I don’t know anything about said. “My husband handles all to Lowndes County courthouse tion currently pays approximate- federal tax lien in the amount of any of that,” Montgomery said. See CANDIDATE, 8A Trunk or Treat Zach Odom/Dispatch Staff Isham Conner Jr. and Cheyenne Smith are walked into Justice Court in Columbus Wednesday afternoon. Conner was charged with aggravat- ed assault on a police officer and possession of a weapon by a con- victed felon. Smith was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bond set for man accused of shooting Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Mothers, fathers, and children of all ages gathered in costume at First Baptist Church’s parking lot on Blucutt Road on Wednesday for the Trunk or Treat night with candy and games in the back of volunteers’ car trunks. From left are Chloe Pitman, at CPD 6-months-old, mother Rachel Pitman, sister, Addison Pitman, 2, and father, Josh Pitman, from Columbus, and Bree Crawford, 1, and her father, Kyle Crawford, of Columbus. Bree’s mother is Stephanie Crawford. 26-year-old Brooksville man had prior history BY SARAH FOWLER Several goals from ‘12 planning session met [email protected] There were several, however, that Ber- A Brooksville man accused of Columbus Redevelopment Authority continues ry was tasked to address. One of those shooting at a Columbus police offi- was to target blighted areas that could cer received a $100,000 bond for the to vet options in first meetings be redeveloped. This was accomplished charge on Wednesday. with the establishment of an urban re- Isham David Conner Jr., also BY NATHAN GREGORY of neighborhoods and [email protected] newal area, a collection of more than 800 known as “DJ”, was arraigned in creating more crime pre- blighted and abandoned commercial par- Lowndes County Justice Court. The vention programs, didn’t Several strategic city planning ob- 26-year-old was charged with one cels along Fifth Street, between Second jectives mapped out early in 2012 by fall specifically under the Berry count of aggravated assault on a po- Street and Sixth Street, between 12th Columbus City Planner Christina Berry planning department but lice officer and one count of posses- Street and 19th Street, North Seventh and city leadership have been met while had an indirect effect on the overall goal sion of a weapon by a convicted fel- Avenue, The Island and the Warehouse other goals set at the time continue to be of making the city more attractive to peo- on. He received a $100,000 bond for District. addressed. ple interested in moving to or locating a the aggravated assault charge and a Another objective was to create a rede- A few of the goals, such as cleanliness business in the city. $10,000 bond for the weapon charge. See PLANNING, 3A The charges stem from a Tues- day incident where Conner alleged- ly shot at a CPD officer near 18th Street and 6th Avenue North as the officer was conducting a traffic stop, Men arrested on drugs, trailer thefts in Clay Co. according to CPD Captain Brent Swan. Conner was not involved in Arrests unrelated Ahmad Cox, 28, of 593 Point Police Department, ac- with information regarding the traffic stop, Swan said. Industrial Access Rd., was cording to Clay County Sheriff the incident to contact the Clay The officer pursued Conner on BY SARAH FOWLER charged with five counts of Eddie Scott. County Sheriff’s Department foot. Several witness told law en- [email protected] possession of cocaine and one Cox received a $150,000 at 662-494-2896, Mississippi forcement Conner ran into a home count possession with intent bond. He is in the custody of Bureau of Narcotics at 662- located at 1100 Ash Street. After ap- CLAY COUNTY — A West to distribute. Cox’s arrest was the Clay County Detention 494-9744, West Point Police proximately three hours barricaded Point man was arrested Tues- a joint operation conducted Center. Department at 662-494-1244 inside the home, Conner was appre- day and charged with posses- by the Mississippi Bureau of In a press release, Scott or Golden Triangle Crime hended when the Lowndes County sion of cocaine with intent to Narcotics, Clay County Sher- said that the investigation is Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. See BOND, 8A distribute. iff Department and the West ongoing and asked anyone See CLAY COUNTY, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS 1 What musical instrument appears November 3: Lowndes Today, Oct. 30 County Board of Supervisors, on a Guinness label? ■ Superhero 5K Walk/Run: This 2 Which British city did Concorde fundraiser for the Columbus Boys courthouse, 9 a.m. make its final flight from Heathrow to? & Girls Club by MUW’s Mortarboard November 4: Columbus City 3 What musical’s movie premiere was Honor Society begins at Stark Rec- Council, municipal complex, preceded by a parade of horse drawn reation Center at 6 p.m. Door prizes, 5 p.m. surreys with fringes on top? costume and team contests. Free November 10: Columbus Mu- Jyquan Gandy 4 What animal is on the California to enter ($10/adults, $5/children Second grade, West Lowndes state flag? nicipal School District Board suggested donation). Sign up at 5 What is Cuba’s most common meeting, Brandon Central facebook.com/mbmuw. Race is fol- High Low mammal? Office, 8 a.m. 69 45 lowed at 8 p.m. by the W Leadership Sunny Answers, 10B Halloween Party and Haunted House. November 14: Lowndes Full forecast on County Board of Supervisors, page 2A. Thursday and Friday, Oct. courthouse, 9 a.m. November 17: Lowndes Coun- 30-31 ty School meeting, Caledonia ■ Haunted Horse Park: Kids Hour High School, 5:30 p.m. INSIDE is 7-8 p.m. at the Mississippi Horse Park, 369 E. Poorhouse Road, Madison Guyton is a fire- November 18: Columbus City Classifieds 9B Obituaries 7A Starkville. “Lights Out” is 8 p.m.-mid- fighter with Columbus Fire & Council, municipal complex, 135TH YEAR, NO. 198 Comics 8B Opinions 6A night. Admission $5. 662-325-9350. Rescue. 5 p.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? SAY WHAT? “It’s fun watching film and carrying that into the game.” Suge Knight, Katt Williams Mississippi State sophomore linebacker charged with robbery Thursday Beniquez Brown. Story, 1B. Men accused HOUSAND ORDS of stealing A T W paparazzo’s camera THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Knight Williams assault case, faces up to LOS ANGELES — seven years in prison if Suge Knight and comedi- convicted. an Katt Williams were ar- Knight, 49, was arrest- rested and charged with ed in Las Vegas. Police robbery Wednesday after said he was taken into a celebrity photographer custody without incident. reported the men stole A phone message for her camera last month. Anthony Brooklier, an at- Prosecutors say Wil- torney who has represent- liams and Knight, who ed Knight, was not imme- founded Death Row Re- diately returned. An email cords, were arrested message sent to Williams’ Wednesday. Knight has agent, Chris Smith, was a prior conviction for as- not immediately returned. sault with a deadly weap- on and could face up to 30 Williams, 43, has years in prison if convict- starred in several comedy ed. specials and appeared in The men are accused films such as “First Sun- of taking a paparazzo’s day” and “Friday After camera in Beverly Hills, Next.” California, on Sept. 5. The Knight was shot and incident remains under wounded in a West Hol- investigation by Bever- lywood, California, night- ly Hills police, who did club about a week and a not immediately return a half before the incident phone message seeking with the photographer. He AP Photo/Altaf Qadri comment. founded Death Row Re- A thick blanket of smoke is seen against the setting sun as young ragpickers search for reusable material at a Williams, who was cords, one of rap’s leading garbage dump in New Delhi, India, on Oct.