Security Overhaul At Summerdale Town Hall

Alabama Summerdale There's a new look at Summerdale town hall but it's not by choice. It's the result of threats of violence and murder.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Wed, January 14, 2009 - 7:34 pm CST

Walk in to Summerdale Town Hall and right away you see it. Bullet proof glass now separates the public from the ladies that work here. "We felt pretty safe here in a small town," says Court Clerk Jenny Gipson, "but something like that happens and makes you think and start to worry a bit."
A threatening phone message greeted employees when they got to work one day. "I had a message on the phone that was very intimidating, scary, threatening to kill us," says Gipson.
The caller was later identified as Marcus Brown and he was pretty easy to find. His phone number showed up on Caller ID and he left his name on the message.
"He said that he was bored and wanted to call somebody," says Gipson.
According to police, Brown picked up the phone, deliberately dialed Summerdale Town Hall and left profanity-laden messages threatening murder and other violence.
"He used the words murder, kill, a lot of profanity and sounded pretty serious to me," says arresting officer, Corporal Quentin Bettner. But there wasn't just one phone call. "then there was a second, third, fourth and a fifth," says Bettner.
"You get people that are upset on the phone obviously when they pay a lot of money," says Gipson, "but I've never been threatened before."
So now, bullet proof glass and other security measures protect employees while taking away a little of that small town charm. Adding a sense of security that seems to be getting harder to come by.
Marcus Brown faces charges of stalking and obstruction of government operations. He is currently free on bond.

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jeffsmith Says:

Tue, Feb 03, 2009 at 4:43 pm

That town has crooked cops, don’t drive there unless absolutely necessary. I don’t even stop at the shops or gas staions anymore in Summerdale, too much revenue based traffic enforcement.