Only In East Texas: Man Arrested, Removed From Wills Point City Council Meeting After Confronting Councilman About Molestation Allegations

This could only happen up in my neck of the woods, Van Zandt County: (Via WFAA-TV; The video (here or click on the still at left) is insane—a must see.

Related stories here and here.)

Officers wrestled a man to the ground and dragged him outside a city council meeting in Wills Point after a long standing dispute erupted into a loud exchange of words.

James Lunsford sat across from council member Mike Jones, who he said repeatedly molested him more than 15 years ago. Wills Point’s mayor ordered Lunsford arrested after he began to verbally confront Jones.

“If you will not address me directly, sir, and stop what you’re doing, I will have you removed from the chambers,” Mayor Roy Caldwell said.

Police then moved in as Lunsford said he would return in March to confront Jones again.

“I got a plane ticket,” he said as he got out of his seat.

Lunsford sat down once again and police then began to physically remove him from the building as he yelled for them to release him.

Lunsford kicked and yelled as police grabbed him by the arms and legs. Police told Lunsford to quit struggling or they would be forced to use a taser on him.

Police charged Lunsford with disrupting a city council meeting and assault.

Jones sat quietly during the outburst and later denied the accusations against him during the meeting.

“Mr. Lunsford’s allegations are false,” he said. “I resent them. My family and I have been hurt by them, and I feel sorry for him that he has to respond in such a way.”

However, Jones did not address previous allegations that he acted inappropriately while he was the fire chief in Richardson. Jones was investigated after several firefighters accused him of watching them in the shower. Jones later resigned.

More recent allegations arose against Jones after his cousin said he molested him as well.

“I was sleeping on the floor in his bedroom and Mike had suggested I would be much more comfortable up in bed with him, and so I agreed and crawled up in bed,” he said.

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