ALDERMEN SUSPEND EMBATTLED MARSHAL

MOREHOUSE -- Following a closed meeting by the Morehouse Board of Aldermen Monday, the city's marshal was placed on administrative leave.

While Triplett is on administrative leave, the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department is providing law enforcement assistance to the community.

At Monday's meeting, the second conducted by the board, townspeople filled up the sidewalk in front of city hall, waiting to speak with the aldermen about City Marshal Doug Triplett.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the board voted to suspend Triplett with pay until the outcome of upcoming court cases, according to the Morehouse city clerk.

Triplett was charged Sept. 27 with three counts of violation of the juvenile code for failing to take a child to juvenile court and one count of endangerment of a child. All are misdemeanor charges.

Triplett was arraigned in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court where he pleaded not guilty.

Triplett's attorney, Malcolm Montgomery, filed a request Oct. 4 for a jury trial, a change of venue and a change of judge.

He is scheduled to return to court this week for a hearing on those motions.

New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney H. Riley Bock would not comment on the charges againsts Triplett, stating the cases are pending.

During the first town meeting on Sept. 20, townspeople spoke with the city board for four hours about the marshal but no action was taken.

That meeting followed a series of incidents including an Aug. 26 fire where Triplett's personal truck and a backup city police car were destroyed by fire.

The State Fire Marshal's office has ruled the fire suspicious in origin.

Triplett was elected to office in April following a four-person race. He defeated his nearest opponent by about 100 votes.