In Wynne, Arkansas, four African American teenagers went door-to- door selling discount cards for their football program. Two of the teenagers actually wore school jerseys to help identify their mission. However, things didn’t go too well for them when they visited the home of Jerri Kelly.
Police responded to a report of “suspicious persons” and arrived at the home to find the young men laying on the ground with Ms. Kelly standing over them and holding them at gun point. The responding officers allowed the kids to get off the ground and explain that they were selling cards for their athletic program.
A few days after the incident, Wynne police arrested Ms. Kelly and charged her “with four counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a minor.”
Details surrounding her arrest and booking into the county jail seem a bit out of the ordinary.
Ms. Kelly happens to be the wife of Cross County Jail Administrator Joe Kelly. Sheriff David West explained to WMC Action News Five that the suspect didn’t have a mug shot because at the time of her booking, she suffered some undisclosed medical issue.
West also said that a bondsman showed up and immediately bailed her out of jail, then took her back home.
He swears Ms. Kelly didn’t receive preferential treatment and that he and his department are very professional.
Kelly has her first court appearance on Thursday and the school district will revisit their policy on fundraising door-to- door.
