September 24, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Its not often someone is arrested at a county commission meeting but that is what happened Monday night during the public comment period.
Max Knudsen (AKA Jill Henderson) addressed the commission with concerns about the SRM rock quarry on North Driver Road near the Knudsen farm and business at the foot of Snow Hill. Because of a disability, Knudsen claimed they did not have to adhere to the three-minute time limit for public comments under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. When Chairman Matt Adcock warned Knudsen that the three-minute time had expired, Knudsen continued speaking and told him (Adcock) to “shut your mouth”. Adcock then apparently had the sheriff and chief deputy to approach the podium, but Knudsen continued speaking. Knudsen said, “I can speak all night long as a peaceful protest”. Knudsen further said to the officers “you will take me out in cuffs sirs”. The sheriff and chief deputy then handcuffed Knudsen and removed Knudsen from the meeting room.
Henderson, age 52 of South Driver Road, Dowelltown is charged with the misdemeanor offense of disrupting a meeting or procession.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that “on September 23, 2024 Henderson did knowingly and intentionally commit the act of disrupting a meeting procession by refusing to sit down and stop speaking. After the allotted three minutes were up at the county commission meeting, when asked to sit down the defendant replied to the chairman to “shut up”. When asked by law enforcement officers to sit down the defendant replied, “you will take me out in cuffs sirs”. Henderson said that multiple times. The defendant still caused a disturbance until escorted out of the meeting room,” said Sheriff Ray.
“That law is for disrupting a meeting or procession and it says a person commits an offense if the intent is to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering and the person substantially obstructs or interferes with the meeting, procession, or gathering by physical action or by verbal utterance. Violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor”, said Sheriff Ray.
Bond is set at $1,500 and the court date is October 10.