Mayor postpones community gathering in wake of statue fallout

Demopolis Mayor Mike Grayson has postponed a community gathering that was initially set for 5:30 p.m. Monday. The gathering came as a reaction to weekend events that saw a Demopolis Police Department patrol car collide with the Confederate Monument in downtown Demopolis.

“Please note the gathering I had asked for on Monday at 5:30 is being rescheduled,” Grayson posted on Facebook Sunday. “My sole purpose and goal for this gathering was for the people of Demopolis to come together in prayer for our community. The central theme being we would be spared from the insanity and evil manifesting itself in the world today. Unfortunately, my goal was misinterpreted and a few have distorted the purpose for their own agenda. Therefore, we will reschedule this for July 31 for the Community Worship Service at 1st Baptist Church – 6PM. The Ministerial Association already had this planned and I believe this will truly accomplish what my intentions were.”

Grayson initially took to Facebook Saturday at 10:21 a.m. to ask for unity following the incident.

“In light of the accident involving the confederate monument, I’m asking for everybody that loves Demopolis to meet me at the monument Monday afternoon July 18 at 5:30,” the mayor penned. “The purpose of this meeting is for prayer unity in our community peace and understanding. No more no less. I would hope that we could get 1000 people in the street for the purpose of good. This is a demonstration not so much to protest anything but to promote. Details to follow.”

Stories regarding the accident made statewide news over the weekend and prompted a wide variety of social media reactions ranging from accusations of malicious intent on the part of the DPD officer to concern over his well being and even questions as to whether or not he was engaged in the widely popular Pokemon Go app while on patrol.

Demopolis Police Department Chief Tommie Reese issued a press release Sunday morning to update the investigation surrounding the incident, noting that the unidentified officer was “transported to the Bryan Whitfield E.R, for a drug screen and later placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard Demopolis Police Department procedure.”

The DPD release also acknowledged the social media reactions to the incident.

“Chief Reese said that he had read the comments that were being made on social media, but his department had to make sure that a complete and thorough investigation was done before making a statement. ‘This was an accident and was not an intentionally act, as some may have wanted or made it out to be, it was just an accident. I am glad the Officer wasn’t injured or killed because we can’t replace a life, but a monument can be repaired or replaced.'”

The release went on to say that disciplinary action will be handled by the department and the matter is closed.