Story Archive

It’s Shot

Cottageville, S.C., has a population of about 750, a municipal budget of just under $600,000 — and a jury verdict against it and a former employee for $97.5 million. But its mayor, Tim Grimsley, says he’s proceeding with business as usual: the jury’s award may be reduced by a judge. Former mayor Bert Reeves’ family sued the town after Randall Price, then of the Cottageville Police, shot him to death. The Reeves’ lawyer, Mullins McLeod, said Price had been hired after repeatedly being fired from other departments — including for misconduct with guns — and that he’d been kept on despite “aggressive behavior” because he generated $600,000 in ticket revenue. McLeod accused Price of killing Reeves for criticizing the officer. “I don’t know if we’ll have to go bankrupt,” said ex-Town Councilman Jimmy Ramsey, “but I’m not sure we’re going to be able to survive as a town either.” (AC/Charleston Post and Courier) ...Imagine: a municipal death penalty for police murder.