A Family Reunion at the Pokey!

I don’t remember exactly how old I was when this story took place. I think I was in about 2nd grade. Late one night or early in the morning you might say my dad comes into my room and says, “Big Fella, I need to go pick up your Grandpa. (My dad’s dad). Do you want to go with me?” I said, sure! Groggily.

Jump in the truck and off we go! I did not understand exactly where we were going to pick Grandpa up at 3:30 in the morning but who cares…I am with dad. We make a lot of small talk and I remember pulling in front of a building in downtown Dallas. It had police cars parked in front of it. We go in and my dad goes to the “receptionist” and tells them that he is there to pick James H up.

Here is how that conversation went.

D- I am here to pick up James H.
R- Looks through her files- (before computers I guess). She can’t find James H. She
Finds a Jimmy H.
D- That is my brother. I will take him.
R.- I have a Jackson H.
D- That is my cousin I will take him
R- I have a Jerry H.
D- (Obviously getting upset) That is my cousin. I will take him
R- Ah, Here he is James H.
D- You would think they were having a family reunion!

Officer escorting a guy in the back in cuffs-CAN I BE YOUR COUSIN??

My dad pulled out a large sum of cash and gave it to the lady. Shortly there after an officer comes out with my dad’s side of the family and hands them over. My dad makes all of them get in the back of the truck and he and I ride in the cab.

Why is that such a big deal? It is January and it was snowing. I remember looking back into the bed of the truck and they were all asleep. That is a serious drunk with it is snowing outside and you are sitting in a wind chill of about 20 below zero and you are sleeping like a baby.

How did this happen? At the time my uncle owned a small bar somewhere in Dallas. At 2:00 they closed the bar and sent everyone home. My uncle shut the door locked it and then the party began. It seems the “family” decided to keep the good times flowing. While this was going on my uncle got into a disagreement with his girlfriend at the time who was also the waitress in the bar and he sent her home. She got mad at him and called the police to inform them that she knew of a bar that was selling alcohol after hours.

The police show up and sure enough drinks are “ a flowin”. They arrest everyone in the bar. This is obviously a bogus arrest. The police are arresting everyone who is drinking after the 2:00am shut off. This is obviously PROFILING!

My dad dropped them all off at my grandpa’s and we go home. Now before you think…why would my dad bring me? Remember what I said in my opening….I cherished getting to spend time with dad. I had no idea of the reality of what was happening. In my world we were picking up Grandpa and others as it turned out from some building where they were obviously sleepy and the police were kind enough to look after them. Had no clue why dad was giving them money. Turns out that little trip cost dad about $1,000. I am sure he never saw that money paid back.