Bailiff's Ball at Coleman & Company

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
June 13, 2008

A tip came in this week about a blast at Woodstock's Coleman & Company. The jail division (oops, politically-correct would be to say Corrections) held its Bailiff's Ball there on Friday, May 9.

Apparently, a partier got into a little bit of a mess leaving the parking lot. Let's just say that another vehicle was involved, and he didn't bother to stop. Or maybe he did bother, and he still didn't stop. In many places, that's called hit-and-run.

Word is that the police tracked him down and that his actions merited a suspension at the sheriff's department.

I was in town during the week after that fateful Friday night and I don't recall seeing any mention in the local daily. Perhaps the accident details were released to the press and I just missed the article. More details will follow as they are unearthed.

Not all accident information is released to the press. A couple of years ago I was tipped to an on-duty accident, after a deputy ran a stop sign in town and wrecked two cars. No ticket. Nothing to the press. A wreck involving an on- or off-duty police officer is no more noteworthy than any other accident, absent special circumstances. But since wreck details are news, they should be reported right along with other news. Then the papers can choose what to print and what not to.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT