3 ON COUNCIL WANT PROBE OF HPD'S HANDLING OF CASE

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree said Tuesday an independent investigation
of the police department's handling of marijuana turned over to officers by
a minister is already under way by a federal agency.

Three members of the Hattiesburg City Council passed a resolution during
Tuesday's meeting calling for a state investigation of the incident.

The resolution made by Councilman Red Bailey said rumors circulating in the
community about the department's handling of the case merit an independent
investigation.

"It is absolutely essential that the public have total confidence in the
Hattiesburg Police Department, and I believe it is in the best interest of
all concerned that these rumors be investigated and laid to rest," Bailey said.

The Rev. Kenneth Fairley, senior pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church,
confirmed last week that he had turned over a large bag of marijuana to
Hattiesburg police in February after a church parishioner brought it to him.

Police say the marijuana was worth about $100,000.

Fairley, who could not be reached for comment on the council resolution,
said last week he was interviewed by Hattiesburg police and agents with the
Drug Enforcement Agency. He said he could not reveal the identity of the
parishioner who brought him the drugs because he could not betray a confidence.

Bailey's resolution, supported by council members Carter Carroll and Betsy
Rowell, asked for an investigation by the state. It came at the end of the
session and was not on the agenda.

The vote was along racial lines. Those supporting it are white. Black
council members Deborah Denard and Henry Naylor opposed it.

DuPree said the issue is already being investigated at the federal level by
the Drug Enforcement Agency.

"I don't know how more independent you can get than that," DuPree said. "I
do not participate in these kinds of police investigations, but as soon as
I know something, I will report it to you."

Bailey said he wants the entire matter investigated.

"I question these proceedings from beginning to end," Bailey said. "The
public does not understand how a large amount of drugs can show up in a
church."

In an interview last week, Fairley said he had no idea what was in the bag
when the parishioner asked to meet with him.

He said as soon as the woman left, he called Hattiesburg police to remove
the bag containing marijuana.

Fairley also said he would not reveal the name of the parishioner to either
local or federal police, citing a pastor-parishioner confidentiality
privilege recognized by courts.

But Bailey said such a privilege, if it exists, should be not allowed if a
criminal act is involved.

"This is a lot of drugs and we need to know the source," Bailey said.

Bailey also questioned why the report was not made public in February.

DuPree said Police Chief David Wynn handled the case appropriately. Wynn
said there was an active investigation of the case and that's why it was
not made public.