[MS] Officer Stewart's girlfriend and ex-girlfriend hid together, afraid. Hole in wall made with ex's head.

[Moss Point Police Officer] Edward Clayton Stewart was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor simple assault... Stewart and his current girlfriend were watching a football game Saturday night at Stewart's ex-girlfriend's home... He’s accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend... "He picked up a chair, grabbed her by the throat and threw her against the wall," [Jackson County Mike] Byrd said. "He didn’t hit her with the chair. According to her, her head busted the hole in the … (wall). He also busted a granite table top and trashed the house"... Moss Point Police Chief Sheila Smallman said an internal investigation is under way to determine what action,
if any,
would be taken against Stewart...

Why wouldn't the chief KNOW for sure that action will be taken? Could it have anything to do with the fact that Officer Stewart is the son of the former Pascagoula Police Chief Eddie Stewart, or are the police down around Moss Point just allowed to commit criminal acts?

MOSS POINT OFFICER CHARGED WITH GRABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND BY THE NECK DURING FOOTBALL GAME
The Mississippi Press
Cherie Ward
January 18, 2011
[Excerpts] A Moss Point police officer was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with assault, [Jackson County] Sheriff Mike Byrd said. Byrd said an additional charge of felony malicious mischief could also be filed against 23-year-old Edward Clayton Stewart of Pascagoula. Stewart is the son of former Pascagoula Police Chief Eddie Stewart... "He grabbed the ex-girlfriend by the throat and pushed her against the wall, busting a hole in the wall," Byrd said. Byrd said Stewart assaulted his ex-girlfriend following an argument with his current girlfriend... "He was drinking too much and the girls didn't want him to drive"... Stewart, then, picked up a chair and his ex-girlfriend stepped in front of him and said, "You're not going to tear up my house," Byrd said. That's when he assaulted the woman... "The girls locked themselves in the bathroom and waited for him to leave. They could hear him knocking things down and tearing up things in the house. He busted a granite countertop, too"... Stewart was arrested in the driveway of the home and taken to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center... Moss Point Police Chief Sheila Smallman said her department has launched an internal investigation concerning Stewart's actions. "It happened while he was off duty and out in the county, but we take it seriously," Smallman said... [Full article here]

MOSS POINT POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED
Sunherald.com
By Margaret Baker
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011
[Excerpts] A Moss Point police officer arrested over the weekend is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend at her home, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said. Edward Clayton Stewart, 23, was arrested early Sunday morning on a charge of misdemeanor simple assault. He’s accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend around 1 a.m. Sunday at her home... "He picked up a chair, grabbed her by the throat and threw her against the wall," Byrd said. "He didn’t hit her with the chair. According to her, her head busted the hole in the … (wall). He also busted a granite table top and trashed the house." The case has since been turned over to sheriff’s investigators to determine if further charges will be filed. Det. Linda Jones is in charge of the investigation. He could face an additional charge of felony malicious mischief because of damage in the home... Stewart was released to Moss Point Police Deputy Chief Bobby Johnson after posting a $1,000 signature bond. Moss Point Police Chief Sheila Smallman said an internal investigation is under way to determine what action, if any, would be taken against Stewart... [Full article here]

MOSS POINT OFFICER ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING EX-GIRLFRIEND SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY
The Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
Thursday, January 20, 2011
[Excerpts] The Moss Point police officer charged with misdemeanor assault this week has been suspended with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation, Mayor Aneice Liddell said Wednesday. The 23-year-old officer, Edward Clayton "Clay" Stewart of Pascagoula, was arrested Sunday. On Wednesday, [Jackson County] Sheriff Mike Byrd, who previously said additional charges were possible, said the investigation is ongoing... [Moss Point Police Chief Sheila] Smallman spoke to the Moss Point Board of Aldermen about the matter during a private executive session at Tuesday night's board meeting, where the board decided to suspend Stewart with pay. "It happened while he was off duty and out in the county, but we take it seriously," Smallman said... [Full article here]

COMMENT ONLINE

"If Stewart lives or lived with one of those allegedly assaulted, it should be classified as Domestic Violence as defined under Mississippi Code of 1972 - SEC. 97-3-7. Simple assault; aggravated assault; domestic violence. A person is guilty of simple domestic violence who commits simple assault as described in subsection (1) of this section against a family or household member who resides with the defendant or who formerly resided with the defendant, a current or former spouse, a person who has a current dating relationship with the defendant, or a person with whom the defendant has had a biological or legally adopted child and upon conviction, the defendant shall be punished as provided under subsection (1) of this section; however, upon a third or subsequent conviction of simple domestic violence, whether against the same or another victim and within five (5) years, the defendant shall be guilty of a felony and sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than five (5) nor more than ten (10) years. In sentencing, the court shall consider as an aggravating factor whether the crime was committed in the physical presence or hearing of a child under sixteen (16) years of age who was, at the time of the offense, living within either the residence of the victim, the residence of the perpetrator, or the residence where the offense occurred. [LINK]
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