SandyMaloneLumberton, MS – The police chief of Lumberton got busted for smoking marijuana in a video released by WDAM, and he’s blaming his wife for setting him up (video below).
The video showed Lumberton Police Chief Shane Flynt smoking out of what appeared to be a broken glass pipe.
“I’m only chief of police in Lumberton that likes to smoke weed,” Chief Flynt bragged in the video.
Although there’s no date on the video, Christmas music can be heard in the background, and the chief made a joke about liking Rudolph the red nose reindeer.
In the video, Chief Flynt’s police chief uniform shirt appeared to be hanging in the background.
“If this ain’t no cool [expletive],” Chief Flynt said in the video. “Who the coolest here? Me! I’m the coolest here.”
WDAM showed the video to Lumberton Mayor Quincy Rogers, who said he’d heard about it and asked the board of alderman to show it to him. However, he said he didn’t actually see it until the news reporter showed it to him.
“That’s quite disturbing,” Rogers told WDAM. “I’m still trying to get over this video.”
The chief claimed no knowledge of the video when he was approached by WDAM, and he also refused the reporter’s offer to show it to him. But it appeared that he had an opportunity to watch the video at some point, and figure out from whence it came, because he commented on it later.
Chief Flynt responded to the video on his Facebook page on Tuesday night, and failed to take any responsibility for his own actions, instead blaming his wife for filming and releasing the recorded footage.
“Please know that one video , one mistake , does not define the person I am., my moral or ethical values . I made a huge mistake , first of all , I trusted the wrong person , welcomed them in my personal home , they recorded me in a vulnerable state and they planned every minute of it . This person being my wife who is obviously very vindictive,” Chief Flynt posted.
“I love serving the town of Lumberton , the people there are like family to me. It saddens my heart that I’ve disappointed many as well as myself,” he wrote.
“Just a thought .. Where would we all be if we all had hidden cameras in our home ? What would our neighbors , preachers , co workers , friends , etc. think of our conversations ? There is no excuse . I pray you all find it in your hearts to show me grace and know that I am truly sorry for this incident,” the chief posted on his personal Facebook page.
WDAM reported that Chief Flynt had submitted his resignation as police chief on Monday, Feb. 19, but it was not known if the video had anything at all to do with that action.
The mayor refused to comment on the suspension or resignation, and told WDAM that it was a personnel matter.
A city official told WDAM that the chief had been suspended and then submitted his resignation, but his resignation was not accepted.
A unanimous vote by Lumberton’s board of alderman on Feb. 22 reinstated Chief Flynt, WDAM reported. He was initially installed as chief of police by the board in September of 2017.
Only one of the city’s alderman was willing to talk to WDAM about the video of the police chief smoking weed.
Alderman Jonathan Griffith claimed he hadn’t seen the video, but questioned why it had been released.
“Everyone in life makes mistakes,” Griffith told WDAM. “And, so, it is our intent to make sure we investigate this matter properly.”
“I currently support the police chief, yes I do,” Griffith said when WDAM asked if he supported Chief Flynt remaining in his position as the city’s chief of police despite the video.
The mayor, however, said the city will be taking action, although he wasn’t clear about what that action might be.
You can see the video of the incident below: