Mississippi's Jump-Out Boys

The police punish people for living in a bad neighborhood.

- C.J. Ciaramella

BETTY JEAN TUCKER, a 62-year-old resident of Canton, Mississippi, says she was hosting a barbecue for family and friends in 2014 when several unmarked cars appeared. Plainclothes deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) jumped out. Without a warrant, they detained and searched all her guests, going so far as to rummage through everyone’s pockets, she says. After finding nothing, the deputies got back in their cars and drove off without explanation.

It wasn’t the first time Tucker had a run-in with the MCSD. About five years ago, she says, her teenage grandson was in her front yard, fixing his brother’s bicycle, when an unmarked truck sped toward him and stopped. Two plainclothes officers jumped out, tackled him to the ground, and searched him. Again finding nothing, the deputies left. Tucker shouted at them, asking what he had done. “Tell your grandson to wear a shirt next time,” they allegedly replied.