Sulphur —
By BOB FORREST
Special Correspondent
A local businessman was arrested Tuesday and charged with misdemeanor theft of a campaign sign belonging to incumbent Pontotoc County District 2 commissioner Danny Davis.
Johnny Boyd, reportedly a supporter of Randy Floyd, who defeated Davis in Tuesday’s runoff election, was taken into custody after being served with an arrest warrant that evening at his business, Boyd Wrecker Service and Broadway Metal in the 1500 block of Sandy Creek Drive.
According to an affidavit filed by Deputy Sheriff Kevin Wood, Boyd allegedly took a Davis sign from the yard of Opal Hays, 12830 County Road 3476 in the Center area. Hays told Wood that Boyd came to her house at around 5 p.m. Monday and told her Davis was out of campaign signs and had asked Boyd “if he could find someone willing to give up their campaign sign.”
Hays said she told Boyd the sign wasn’t hers to give away and that she needed to hear from Davis before she could give it to Boyd. Hays told Wood she saw a red pickup parked down the street from her house after dark, and after running the tag information, Wood determined the truck belonged to Boyd.
A number of Davis signs were stolen in the neighborhood that night, Hays said, and she told Wood that Boyd had also spoken to Clancy Davis about the sign. Wood called Davis and later met with him in person, and Davis said Boyd had told him Hays had said (Boyd) could have the sign.
Wood then talked to Danny Davis, who said he had not talked to Boyd and had not given him permission to remove a sign from Hays’ yard or from any other yards.
In his affidavit, Wood said that when he served the warrant, Boyd asked what he had stolen and was told he had taken campaign signs. Boyd answered that the only sign he had was a big Randy Floyd sign in the back of his truck and asked what kind of signs he was alleged to have taken. When told they were Davis signs, Boyd answered that the only Davis sign he had taken was with permission from the property owner.
“There were a bunch of signs taken out there that night,” Sheriff John Christian said. “All told, (Davis) said that over a period of time about 70 signs had been taken in that area. At $5 apiece, that’s a pretty good chunk of money.”
Wood reported that he searched Boyd’s business but didn’t find any other signs.
Floyd, who will begin his term on the board of commissioners in January, said he believed the attention surrounding Boyd’s arrest was unwarranted.
“I don’t know the individual personally,” Floyd said. “I hate it for him, and I hate it that it’s been an issue for Danny (Davis). I think it’s a sad deal that there are even charges being filed. I know it’s a crime to take a sign, but I know I wasn’t involved.
“The race is over with, and everybody just needs to move on,” he added. “These things happen. I wanted to keep it a clean race. We should just move forward and concentrate on what’s best for our county.”
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Johnny Boyd
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