WADESBORO- An altercation with an officer from the Wadesboro Police Department following morning worship services at Harvest Ministries on Sunday, Dec. 8 ended with a member of the congregation, 36-year-old Marshville resident Mario Melton, being arrested on the charge of Resisting a Public Officer. Melton claims he was falsely arrested and has enlisted the help of Civil Rights activist John C. Barnett to assist him in getting the charges dismissed.
Melton, a U.S. military veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq, lives in Union County but attends worship services at Harvest Ministries in Wadesboro on Sundays. On Dec. 8, Melton left the worship service and saw Sgt. Thomas Luckey of the Wadesboro Police Department detaining his nephew
Melton’s nephew had his children in the car with him. Sgt. Luckey was detaining the nephew in relation to a call about a domestic dispute. “From what we learned, the girlfriend had called a bogus report on my grandson, Mario’s nephew,” said Melton’s mother, Evelyn Melton, who added, “She called the police and said that my grandson had their children and they were in danger. They’ve had domestic issues like that occasionally.”
Melton claims he was acting out of concern for his nephew’s children when he approached Sgt. Luckey’s vehicle to inquire about the situation. “The children were scared and petrified on their father’s behalf,” said Melton.
Sgt. Luckey allegedly ordered Melton to back away from the vehicle or face arrest to which Melton responded, “I am not afraid of you.” That statement initiated what Melton describes as a “tussling match” between him and Sgt. Luckey.
The incident was recorded on a cell phone video that has gone viral across Facebook. The video begins with Sgt. Luckey repeatedly pushing Melton against the car. Eventually, a sheriff’s deputy shows up on the scene and tackles Melton to the ground. Melton is then handcuffed and detained in the patrol car.
Pastor Steve Adams attempted to intervene on Melton’s behalf and was handcuffed as well. Pastor Adams was released almost immediately in order to “keep the peace”. “They took the cuffs off Pastor Steve to keep the peace but they’re going to keep me because they said I was ‘aggressive’,” said Melton.
Melton would be charged with Resisting a Public Officer, which is a misdemeanor in North Carolina. The warrant reads, “I, the undersigned, find there is probable cause to believe that the defendant named above unlawfully and willfully did resist, delay and obstruct Officer Luckey, a public officer at Wadesboro Police Department by failure to comply with being handcuffed.” Melton was released on an unsecured bond with a written promise to return to court at the time of his trial.
Melton enlisted the services of civil rights activist Barnett shortly after his arrest. Barnett is the Founder/President of True Healing Under God Civil Rights Initiative (T.H.U.G.). According to their site, “T.H.U.G. is NOT a law firm, yet merely provides attorney referrals to better assist their members.“
Pastor Tim Adams, Senior Pastor at Harvest Ministries, would co-write a letter with his son, Pastor Steve Adams, concerning the incident. Pastor Tim read from the letter at the Wadesboro Town Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 3. In the letter, Pastor Adams claims that Luckey’s actions were racially motivated.
Barnett is asking for at least 50 people to show up at Melton’s next trial date, on March 31, to participate in what he refers to as a “Court Patrol”. The trial begins at 9:30 a.m. and Barnett, along with the participants of the Court Patrol, will join in on a unified prayer on Melton’s behalf beginning at 9 a.m.
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