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Former task force agent's tactics being questioned A video that has been aired numerous times on a Mobile television station's news broadcast has launched an investigation into whether or not a now former member of the First Judicial Drug Task Force (Task Force One) used excessive force in apprehending a drug suspect. A crew from WPMI Channel 15 News was in Washington County March 14 working on a story concerning an inmate who fled from a road crew picking up trash. While taping for that report, the crew heard sirens and turned their cameras on a vehicle being stopped by McIntosh Police Captain Mike Ready and Task Force One Agent Blane Barnett. The video shown in the broadcast and still available on the television station's Web site: www.wpmi.com, shows Agent Barnett shooting a Tazer at Ronald Reed, the driver of the vehicle they were pursuing, then pulling him from the vehicle, throwing him to the ground and hitting him once. It is well-known that officers sometimes have to be forceful when apprehending suspects. What is being called into question is whether or not Barnett used excessive force in subduing Reed, who was wanted on a second degree possession of marijuana charge and had fled from police. Until Monday, March 31, it was also questioned as to whom Barnett was working for, since his resignation had been turned in to Task Force One Commander Michael Hunt. He had reportedly accepted a position with the McIntosh Police Department, but claimed his resignation from the task force was not effective until the end of the day of which Reed's arrest occurred. Task Force One department heads had stated his resignation took effect the day before on March 13. During a meeting of the Task Force One Executive Board, Monday, its members determined that Agent Barnett was still employed by the drug enforcement agency on March 14. Barnett and the departments involved will not make any official statements until the investigation into Barnett's use of force to subdue Reed is complete. District Attorney Spencer Walker issued a statement to the media, Monday, stating that because he serves on the Task Force Executive Board, he will most likely turn the investigation over to another agency. Task Force One conducts drug investigations in Clarke, Washington and Choctaw counties, which make up the First Judicial Circuit. Members of its executive board include the sheriffs of each county and several police chiefs of municipalities within the circuit.
The task force's operations are directly overseen by the Jackson Police Department.
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