justice4stacey.com

The below letter was recently submitted to the Daily Reflector for publishing.  In our opinion the Daily Reflector’s refusal, to date, to print this letter is yet another effort to defend their ENDORSED candidate for Sheriff, Mac E. Manning while denying the public an opportunity to truly know our Sheriff.   

What many may not know is the author of the letter lived on the same road as Stacey and rode by Stacey and Michelle’s house daily.  Mr. Williams’ routine travels allowed him an opportunity to see the Sheriff developing that “special relationship” with his top gang investigator, PCSO Lt. Michelle Pollard, a.k.a. - NC Department of Corrections Inmate #**********. 

But perhaps there is a “plausible explanation” for Mac’s visits.  For example, Michelle’s house may well have been a secret satellite office of the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office OR her house may have been under cosideration for an episode of Deputies Gone Wild - Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Edition OR Michelle’s neighbors may have DREAMED they saw Mac at her home and found themselves unable to distinguish dreams from reality, much like Michelle’s I DREAMED EVERTHING DEFENSE offered to the SBI OR per Michelle’s Deposition, Mac may have stopped by to FIX HER PIPES AND CHANGE HER BULBS.  OR our favorite, Mac may have been stopped to share a copy of a FACTUALLY ACCURATE 911 call with Michelle and her convicted felon boyfriend, Tommy Ray Thompson.  The call, from yet another neighbor, correctly  stated Stacey “didn’t die the way his wife told you and she has been seeing another man.”  Incredibly, Mac DID ALLOW Michelle and her felonious boyfriend to review this recorded call and assist him in discovering the identity of the caller.  His concern was apparently disproving the factual content of the call.  Even more incredulous, was Mac’s LIE that the source of the call was the Pollard family or one of their assoicates.  Imagine that, a felon, a soon to be felon (Michelle) and Mac listening to the call while feverishly trying to figure it’s source.  If not so pathetic it would be laughable. 

Whatever the reason, we’re sure it’s routine procedure for Mac to frequently visit every officer under his employ, at their personal abode no less, who admits to pushing their epiletic husband in a swimming pool on a freezing night, leaving him in the pool alone, locking him out of the house after pushing him in the pool and then displays her remorse by…………. having group sex the night of her husband’s funeral.  That type of person deserves your “special time” huh Sheriff?

Per our investigator, the rumor referenced in the letter is actually quite true.  Did anyone honestly think Michelle would “resign” without a secured source of income?  And who might assist such an exemplary employee with attaining this monthly stipend?  Ask Mac.  When you do, watch for the tell-tale signs of dishonesty; rapid eye movement, profuse under-arm sweating and momentary lack of cognitive skills.  Additionally, it is also our understanding Lt. Pollard continued to receive these benefits for some time after her incarceration. 

At any rate, a heartfelt thanks go out to Mr. Jerrry Williams for his courage and honesty in penning the following:

With much interest I have observed the Pitt County  Sheriff’s campaign.  In the February 17 edition of the Daily Reflector, there was  a paid political advertisement  written “from the desk of Sheriff Mac Manning”. Much of the text is devoted to Michelle Pollard and the investigation of Stacy Pollard’s death.

I must presume that these are sensitive issues for Sheriff Manning. Regarding the hiring and termination of any sheriff department employee, everyone knows that this can only be done with the sheriff’s approval. So while Sheriff Manning did not hire Michelle Pollard, he “made a conscientious decision in taking disciplinary action” and allowed her to remain employed after seeing questionable behavior in August 2007.  She continued to be employed until she “resigned” effective July 1, 2009.  There is a rumor that she continued to receive workman’s compensation after her termination.

I have voted for Mac Manning in every election since he ran against the incumbent many years ago and made a contribution to his campaign when he ran against the incumbent while at the time I was a registered Republican.  My question for Mac Manning was not selected for the Henry Hinton debate, I presume due to time constraints.  The question was “when much of the above Michelle Pollard was occurring, why did we as Michelle Pollard neighbors see you at her home on multiple occasions?”  I would think that the sheriff’s office would be a much more suitable place for personnel meeting.

Jerry Williams

The below is a letter recently received.  Unfortunately, the author, was denied the opportunity to have the letter published by several Pitt County Newspapers………even as a PAID letter/advertisement!  The refusal of the Daily Reflector to publish the letter is to be expected based on their endorsement of a candidate, Sheriff Manning, who has several current or former officers in prison or under indictment.  It smacks of an even higher level of HYPOCRISY since the Daily Reflector allowed Mac’s paid advertisement where he stated Barbara Pollard’s efforts to bring accountability to those responsible for her son’s death was nothing more than a politically motivated smear campaign.   Incredible isn’t it?  Not when the political career of Pitt County’s highest ranking law enforcement officer and source of information to the local paper as well as the financial well being of several local attorneys is concerned.  What a wretched crew we have been reduced to depending on for news and protection.

To My Fellow Citizens of Pitt County:

Many of you may, or may not, know the history of my relationship with Sheriff Mac Manning.  It started in 1998, on the day I was sworn in as Pitt County Commissioner for District 6.  After taking my Oath of office, I witnessed a number of Sheriff’s Deputies enter the Commissioner’s Auditorium.  During a break, I found that these deputies had just lost their jobs because Mac refused to swear them in.  These deputies were with their wives and children. I observed many of their wives crying.  This truly broke my heart, so after the meeting, I went directly to the Pitt County Sheriff’s office and asked Mac why these trained officers were not keeping their jobs.  His response was, “I am responsible for the actions of this department and I need people working for me that I can trust”, indicating that because these officers may have supported their previous Sheriff during the election, Mac could no longer trust them.

            The next dealing I had with Sheriff Manning was over a contract he signed with a phone company regarding the Pitt County Detention Center.  I questioned the Pitt County Attorney and was informed that, legally, the Sheriff could not sign a binding contract.  However, in an effort not to embarrass the Sheriff, the County Commissioners later voted to approve the same contract that Manning had previously signed.  I later found that the phone company’s salesman was a former Sheriff of another county who in the future would contribute money to Mac Manning’s campaign. 

            On several occasions Manning came before the Pitt County Commissioners and requested more money to keep the deputies from leaving the department.  I personally talked with each deputy whom had resigned, only to find not a single officer noted financial reasons for their departure.  They told me they left the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office for more job security after seeing the way other deputies were treated by Sheriff Manning.

            Other things I questioned Sheriff Manning about included: where money came from for so-called “Public Service Announcements” on television, which featured Mac Manning shortly before his 2002 Sheriff’s Election. I also questioned why Mac wanted the Commissioners to budget $1800 for a sniper rifle that could be bought at any retail gun store for $800. 

            Because I was doing what I believed to be my duty as an elected Pitt County Commissioner and steward of the taxpayer’s money, I was becoming a so-called “thorn in the side” of Sheriff Manning.  Prior to the election of 2006, several deputies informed me that Mac Manning was “furious” about my questioning him. I was told that he along with some of his deputies were “plotting” to unseat me as County Commissioner and fill the seat with one of Mac’s good friends, Kenneth Ross.  I immediately started seeing my signs removed from my friends’ yards, and being replaced with Kenneth Ross signs.  When I asked why, they told me that a “Deputy” had told them “I was destroying the Sheriff’s Department, and that they needed me out of office and Ross elected in my place.”  On Election Day there seemed to be more Deputies Sheriff’s working the elections polls than there were working the streets!  Apparently, Mac Manning was getting his revenge by placing well-known Deputies at all the precincts in my district wearing red t-shirts that read, “Vote for Kenneth Ross”.  Kenneth Ross and Mac Manning have lied both to me and about me, many times.

After the dealings I have had over the last twelve years, many recent actions of Sheriff Mac Manning and some Pitt County Sheriff’s Deputies have come as no surprise to me. 

In closing, I am asking you to vote with my family and I, for two people that have never lied to me or the citizens of Pitt County.  These two men are: Neil Elks for Pitt County Sheriff and Dr. Michael House for Pitt County Commissioner District 6.

D. Glenn Bowen, Jr.

Former Pitt County Commissioner, District 6

GET OUT AND VOTE FOLKS, IT’S OUR ONLY CHANCE.

Obviously, the upcoming election looms large on the horizon.  Both Mac Manning and Neil Elks are posturing for the support of prominent citizens and organizations at state and local levels.  Mr. Elks has recieved the endorsement of the Police Benevolence Association and the former Sheriff of Pitt County.   To date, Mac has received only the endorsement of the Daily Reflector’s Editorial Department.  What is interesting is the content of the newspaper article endorsing  Mac.  It is inconceivable how an article could correctly call Mac out for his “poor handling” of Stacey’s death investigation and the fiasco known as Michelle Pollard, compliment Neil Elks for his sound ideas and for being an impressive candidate and then………..endorse Mac Manning.   How could these media “professionals” pen this article without becoming sickened by their own words is beyond the realm of logical thinking. 

But in our opinion, the endorsement of one particular person and his office would be the grandest prize in Pitt County.  This individual would be the most powerful person in Pitt County, the District Attorney.  You see, in nearly every MURDER or other significant criminal case in Pitt County the office of ONE and ONLY ONE person, the District Attorney, has the power to present his case to the Grand Jury for indictment.  The power of this position and office is so great that even if a person were to commit a well documented crime, complete with confession and video, the person couldn’t be indicted for the crime until the District Attorney chose to present his evidence to the Grand Jury.         

Our local District Attorney, Clark Everette, has not given a public endorsement for either candidate.  But he did give his opinion of Sheriff Mac Manning to Stacey’s family and attorney during the SBI’s Stacey Pollard HOMICIDE investigation.  Mr. Everette remorsefully admitted that Sheriff Manning once had a “CUSHION OF CREDIBILITY” with him and his office.  He further stated that Mac’s actions during the investigation of Stacey’s Death had given him, as the District Attorney, reason to no longer extend any level of credibility to the Sheriff, especially where Mac’s actions regarding Michelle Pollard were concerned.   

 Think about that for a moment.  How damning is it for a District Attorney to call out the highest ranking Law Enforcement Officer in the County, Sheriff Mac Manning, to the family of a man who died a horrendous death at the hands of PCSO Lt. Pollard?  We’re left to interpret District Attorney Everette’s bold declaration of Mac’s LOSS OF CREDIBILITY as an endorsement for Mac’s opposition in the Sheriff’s race, Neil Elks, and for the condemnation of a seated Sheriff. 

If this sounds like sour grapes to some, please challenge us to a Public Polygraph Examination.  We’ll do something Michelle could only dream of……….PASS IT WITH FLYING COLORS!

Only the Daily Reflector or Mac himself could spin this one differently. 

“What More Could a Family Want” Sheriff Manning?

The question ”What more could a family want from a death investigation” was actually posed by Sheriff Mac Manning to Stacey’s family during a recent interview on Talk of the Town.  Mac even went so far as to compare the Pollard families’ continued search for justice to be comparable to that seen when a family loses a loved one to suicide.   Isn’t it amazing how people can use a public forum to not only defend a monumental wrong but quickly follow with an attempt to portray a grief-stricken family who lost a completely innocent son or brother at the hands of a convicted felon and Pitt County Deputy as the perpetrators of evil?  Frankly, we’re amazed lightning didn’t strike the studio during the interview.

But, first things first.  Mac posed the question so how about this.  The family would have liked Mac or the SBI to listen to Michelle’s 911 call and then question Michelle about the call and why her version of events surrounding Stacey’s death changed after taking the SBI administered polygraph.  Michelle stated in her 911 call, through tears and sobbing not seen or heard since Scarlet O’Hara played Rhett Butler like a fiddle,  that Stacey must have fallen in the pool while having a seizure.  Remember Michelle placed this call IMMEDIATELY after finding Stacey in the pool.  Since this story would later change after her failed polygraph examination, it would lead most people to believe the 911 call was REHEARSED and the events PREMEDITATED.  The family would have liked for you, Sheriff Manning, to at least have looked at this!

The family would also have liked Sheriff Manning to immediately remove the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office from Stacey’s death investigation and contact the SBI for the investigation when Mac gained knowledge of the late November drowning death of the spouse of a Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Deputy.  Even the president of the State Sheriff’s Association commented in the News and Observer that this should have been a call made instantly.  To make matters worse, the SBI Agent called to investigate Stacey’s death months after the tragedy, admitted finding crime scene evidence months after the death was like finding “Easter Eggs in August.”  Maybe, if Mac called the SBI the night of Stacey’s death, Lt. Pollard would not have been allowed to burn what was quite possibly damning evidence the day after Stacey’s funeral or she would have thought twice about participating in three-way sex the night of Stacey’s funeral.

Sheriff Manning, you might also want to consider retracting your statement that the person you assigned to be the head of the major crimes unit, Lee Moore, had never to you knowledge had a romantic relationship with Lt. Pollard.  Lee Moore’s ADMISSION to Stacey’s family in front of Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Kilpatrick and Dance that he had indeed had a romantic relationship with Michelle during her marriage to Stacey was the SOLE reason Lee Moore took the families’ issues with the investigation to you.  After all Mac, you refused to meet with the family and sent Lee Moore in your stead.  Bet you wish you hadn’t sent him now.  At worst, your refusal to acknowledge this relationship is dishonest.  At best, it paints you as an INCOMPETENT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.   Stacey’s family would like you to tell us which reason you choose.  

Sheriff Manning, if NOTHING ELSE, you could at the very least admit to Stacey’s family and the citizens of Pitt County that YOU, AND ONLY YOU, MADE A MONUMENTAL MISTAKE BY NOT CALLING THE SBI IMMEDIATELY AFTER STACEY’S DEATH AND QUIT BLAMING OTHERS FOR THE FAILURE YOU AND ONLY YOU HAVE MADE!   After that, you can give us an HONEST reason for not placing the call.

THAT WOULD BE A START SHERIFF MANNING.   WE’RE WAITING.

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