On Thursday, June 3, Jessica Gay Parks of Julian, North Carolina allegedly broke into and stole the county-owned Tahoe that’s assigned to Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers.
A lot of people would hold a grudge about something like that. However, a Friday, June 4 press release from the Sheriff’s Department revealed that Rogers was praying not just for the thief – but with her.
“Although he will pursue the criminal charges filed against Ms. Parks, Sheriff Danny Rogers put aside his personal feelings and met briefly with her at the jail on Friday morning, June 4, 2021,” the press release reads.
“According to Sheriff Rogers, Parks was contrite and apologetic,” it adds. “The Sheriff asked Ms. Parks about her physical condition, counseled her about the seriousness of her actions, prayed with her, and encouraged her to seek assistance from the Sheriff’s Inmate Re-entry Program once her charges are resolved.”
That program provides employment and housing assistance to inmates who are re-entering society after their release from jail or prison.
The press release from the sheriff’s department noted that no one was injured during the incident and the sheriff’s Tahoe wasn’t damaged. It stated that the vehicle “was back in service with Sheriff Rogers behind the wheel on Thursday evening.”
This is nothing new for Rogers, who, shortly after he was elected to the job, did something highly unusual for a sheriff: He hugged inmates and tried to “spread love” throughout the county’s two jails. Rogers also delivered fatherly advice to the inmates with a message of redemption.
In 2018, when Rogers defeated long-time Republican Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes, Rogers made redemption a theme of his campaign
“The trustees that work there in the kitchen – I’m hugging ‘em,” Rogers told the Rhino Times soon after being elected. “I’m loving on ‘em. I go in the pods; I shake their hands. I talked to the 19-year-olds, the 20-year-olds, the 18-year-olds, and I ask them: Why are you here? And I sat down beside one young man, and I said, ‘It’s your choice.’”
Based on his latest interaction with the alleged car thief, Rogers is still spreading that message.
Some of Rogers’ detractors were critical of the practice that one labeled “Hug-a thug.” Others found it refreshing for a sheriff to openly show affection for inmates.
Ordinarily I would commend this action, but why make it public if not just for show or damage control?
i wonder when the real story will break about the “sheriff” allowing the now jailed inmate to sit in his tahoe until he got off work…..
And all the other officers coming and going around the sheriffs office and parking lot would have seen the women sitting in his car without a doubt and knew why she was there and would not ask questions. Maybe she was just going down the road to get dinner for her and the sheriff for when he gets off from work.
We do not have the full story here,
something is fishy for sure.
I support the Sheriff. We need to give his department and the men and women who serve in it our full support.
Unlike what they get from the Marxist City Council.
Miller the sheriffs department and the city council are not connected
I did not say that.
Why does everyone hate the Marx brothers here?
Contrite and apologetic? That’s about as phony as the “prayer meeting”.
Something smells awfully fishy about this. Are there no cameras outside the sheriff’s office that are monitored by deputies on the inside? She sat there for two hours and no one noticed? I feel real secure knowing we have such a competent group protecting us.
Danny-just think-you could have prevented the whole thing by not leaving KEYS in YOUR CAR.This poor woman will do a lot of time because of your negligence.
Helping people recover who make mistakes is one thing-helping them make mistakes is another.
Greensboro is endless entertainment
Did the Sheriff go into her jail cell and hug her like he does ALL the other jail inmates. How long and tight did he hug her and did he whisper anything into her ear to help her learn her lesson soo she would be sure to do it again.