Frank Melton is a controversial American public figure and the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. Melton first attracted attention in Mississippi 1984 when he took over the local NBC affiliate WLBT. After selling WLBT, Melton ran for mayor of Jackson in 2006 on a platform of ridding the city of crime.Official Site: About Mayor Melton
On May 5, 2009, after losing a primary bid for reelection, Mayor Melton experienced a "cardiac incident" and was rushed from his home by ambulance to the Critical Care Unit of nearby St. Dominic's Hospital.WLBT: Jackson mayor Frank Melton, still alive (May 6, 2009)
Ridgeway Street Incident
In September 2006, Melton, leading a group known as his "lawn crew", raided half of a duplex that Melton believed to be a crack house without a warrant and arrested the schizophrenic tenant, Evans Welch. Melton also ordered his "lawn crew" to demolish the duplex with a sledgehammer. A warrant was never issued to search the duplex and the property's owner, Jennifer Sutton, was not told of the raid or of plans to demolish her property. Melton, as well as two of his bodyguards, were charged with multiple felonies in connection with the event.
