Did Former CCL Board President Tell the Truth?
Did the Former Library Board President Unlawfully Order Christian County Residents to Leave the Parking Lot on July 23rd? And Did She Lie About it August 27th?
On August 27th, the Former President of the Board of Trustees claimed no knowledge that the Nixa Police officer hired by the Christian County Library had requested several patrons and Library Board trustees to leave. The whole clip starts at 55:20. Here is a shorter clip.
She states she went home out the back door and wasn’t aware of the incident in the parking lot until two weeks later. Then Janis Hagen, another Trustee, confirms Ms. Tuckness’ incredible tale.
Ms. Tuckness has been witnessed speaking to the Officer hired by CCL several times before the Library Board meeting started, whispering privately. I overheard her once talking about what to do about what to do if things got out of control. She was concerned about security. Was she overconcerned? Was she hypersensitive?
Here are the details from July 23rd.
On July 23rd, Nixa Police responded to the address of the Christian County Library. They quickly surrounded mothers, grandmothers, and grandfathers, fellowshiping and talking after a meeting.
Congregating at the end of the meeting peacefully is protected by the 1st Amendment—Free Speech, Freedom to Assemble, and Freedom to Associate. Since it’s on public grounds, it’s not a right that should be violated.
Being on these public grounds owned by the city or state has been upheld by Supreme Court rulings if it doesn’t violate any laws. Currently, the Supreme Court is revisiting some cases about homelessness.
More to the point, though. The Library Board, this night, approved a kiosk on its property to pay utility bills. They know that being on Library property isn’t a violation of laws. Someone intended to intimidate and harass Library patrons who commented at the board meeting with police officers and to intimidate and harass other Library Board trustees who were in separate groups talking to different patrons.
The Officer on duty that night was off-duty and was paid by the library for private security.
Insisting that this was a government building and since it was closed, they had to leave. The police officer hasn’t received good instruction from her Sergeant about the people's constitutional rights in the parking lot. He probably hopes the people in the parking lot don’t know their rights.
The officer has been told to disperse people in the parking lot and that smiling mothers, grandmothers, and grandfathers’ behavior (conservatives) is suspicious.
“The President advised, she wanted it to be dispersed if we…I’m just going off what I’m being told.”
Could you catch that last part? “The President advised…she wanted it to be dispersed.”
In context, they are speaking about the board of trustees and not the president of the United States.
The Conservatives, knowing the law, stood their ground until the Sergeant spoke to this young officer when he arrived, who unfortunately seemed to take the blame for everyone.
When I attempted to retrieve records from the Nixa Police Department about the Incident Report and the Call, the Nixa Police Department deflected when I spoke to them on July 26th and told me to speak to the Christian County Dispatch.
On Monday, July 29th, I visited the Nixa Police Department. I was told the (unnamed at the time) Lieutenant was out of the office, and again, I was deflected to the E911 Center. Wes Taylor (IT Manager) was able to give me this document. He informed me that no Narrative for the call was given.
On Page 2, you can see the three responding officers. The Responding Sergeant’s officer’s name is Seiner.
Nixa PD provided nothing but a form Letter. No other records were obtained.
We don’t know any details about the call. Was the call initiated by Library Staff or Library Board Trustees? If we believe the young officer (and I’m inclined to believe the person with the least to gain and lose). The Officer is telling the truth.
Did former President Tuckness run out the back door after calling the Sergeant to get the people to disperse, using unauthorized police power like a tyrant?
Is there any reason to doubt why Ms. Tuckness had to leave the position as President beyond the problems with free speech she has already caused?
And why is Nixa PD Brass not protecting their young officer against a bad actor on the Library Board? They should have told Tuckness no and condemned her actions.