By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala.-- After footage of a recent traffic stop was released by Southern Torch, Rainsville Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt ordered an investigation of the Rainsville Police Department. 

Lingerfelt hired a private investigator and called upon the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (ABI) to determine if the leak was from the Rainsville Police Department. 

After the private investigation was completed, it was determined that only two copies were made by the department. One copy was forwarded to the 9th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and the other copy was given to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office according to a statement made by Lingerfelt.

Southern Torch reached out to Lingerfelt and Rainsville Police Chief Kevin Smith to ask some follow-up questions. Smith said he was instructed to forward media requests to the mayor. Lingerfelt did not return any of the calls requesting comment. Our questions were:

• When did you decide to hire a private investigator to investigate the Police Department?
• What has the investigator found?
• What was the cost of the private investigator?
• Why do you prefer to communicate to out of town media over local media when you make your announcements?

Southern Torch has not been contacted by any officials from Rainsville inquiring about the video or the circumstances in which it was presented. Had the inquiry been made, we would have happily explained to Lingerfelt that it was anonymously delivered. Lingerfelt rarely returns our requests for comment. Southern Torch has also reached out to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and they have assured us that the video did not originate there.

As part of the press, one of the constitutionally guaranteed rights we hold dearly is our First Amendment right of freedom of the press. It is a right that we do not take lightly. We exercise it with caution. Our office receives numerous calls, texts, emails, and messages of information. Most of the time, we cannot fully corroborate the facts nor properly source the information. When we can, we go forward with the story.

Southern Torch will continue to investigate and will update as more information becomes available.