Mississippi Choctaw vice chief disputes assault story

Thursday, May 1, 2008  

The vice chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians says a free newspaper mischaracterized his arrest for assault.

Charges against Eddie Sam were dropped but not before The Philadelphian reported that he was arrested on March 31 at East Mississippi Community College. The paper said a 19-year-old college student told police that Sam beat him up.

Sam responded by asking The Neshoba Democrat to print a statement explaining the incident. He said he had gone to the college " out of concern for the safety of my 17-year-old daughter. My wife and I had received information that a male student at EMCC was being abusive to her."

"I didn't go to the campus as Vice Chief or a representative of the Tribe, but I went there as a concerned father who was worried about the safety and well being of his child," Sam said. He didn't identify the "male student."

Besides issuing the statement, Sam reportedly met with the Philadelphian to ask the paper to clear up the story. Philadelphia Mayor Rayburn Waddell also attended the meeting but has refused to comment.

Get the Story:
Mayor: No comment on meeting with paper exec (The Neshoba Democrat 4/30)