Dixons claim mistreatment from authorities, media
Published 8:23 pm Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A couple that has made headlines for their political forays and for run-ins with the law say they have not been given a chance to tell their story.
Louis Dixon and Felicia Owens Dixon claim unfair treatment from law enforcement and misrepresentation in the media are negatively impacting their attempts to regain custody of their daughter.
“As of this day, we still haven’t been able to regain custody of our child,” Louis Dixon said.
Their argument comes from an incident the night of Aug. 26, in which police responded to a call on Washington and Selma avenues.
The two claim more than 50 supporters of Mayor James Perkins Jr. swarmed their van, and one person struck Louis Dixon in the face.
It was rumored that shots had been fired, but police did not determine that to be true.
After finding four guns in the Dixons’ possession, three of which were in their van, they and two other adults were arrested. A 5-year-old was placed in the custody of the Department of Human Resources.
Louis Dixon ran unsuccessfully for mayor, gaining 38 votes. Felicia Dixon lost her city council Ward 3 race. She fiercely campaigned for her husband, saying “my husband did not win, but I feel like I changed the spirit of this whole election.”
She also claimed the events and subsequent arrest on Election Night were part of Perkins’ attempts to get back at them.
Perkins, who lost his re-election bid to George Evans, denied any interest in retaliation.
“That’s ridiculous,” Perkins said. “I don’t have any concerns about them.”
The Dixons also claimed they were falsely jailed and forced to plead guilty under duress. During a 10-day stay in jail, they say $10,000 worth of damage was done to their house.
Both pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misapplication of property last week in circuit court. The charge was reduced from a third-degree burglary felony.
Charges of endangering the welfare of a child and not having a license to carry a weapon are still pending with the city.
Charges of soliciting a prostitute also loom from an arrest involving 14 people in Montgomery in early July.
Louis Dixon protested his arrest relating to the gun charges, citing a pardon of a previous felony charge.
District Attorney Michael Jackson said that pardon doesn’t completely put Dixon in the clear.
“He got pardoned on his voting rights. He never got gun rights restored. He’s not supposed to be in possession of a gun,” Jackson said.
Part of the pair’s plea agreement also mandates that they enter drug treatment.
Felicia Dixon contends she has never used illegal substances.
“I’ve never done drugs a day in my life,” she said. “I’ve never smoked a day in my life. I’ve never drank a day in my life. That’s not even me.”