Trespassing charges dismissed against Madison police

For the second time, trespassing charges filed by Robin Mayfield against three Madison police officers have been dismissed.

A Madison County Justice Court judge dismissed the case Wednedsay.

In October, a Madison County circuit judge denied a probable cause hearing on whether to issue arrest warrants for the officers. Circuit Judge JohnEmfingerdismissed the petition on procedural grounds, stating "any prosecution for trespassing under this section should be commenced by the issuance of a citation, not by the issuance of an arrest warrant. Police and educators, when acting in their official capacity, are entitled to a hearing to determine whether evidence exists to warrant their arrest.

Mayfield refiled trespassing charges in Madison County Justice Court against the three Madison police officers who showed up at her Ridgeland home after her husband, Mark Mayfield, killed himself in June.

Robin Mayfield says once the officers crossed from Madison into Ridgeland they were no longer acting as police officers.

Mark Mayfield had been arrested by Madison police on May 22. Mayfield, an attorney and tea party leader, and three others were charged with felony conspiracy, accused of plotting to photograph Sen. Thad Cochran's bedridden wife for use in a political video.

Mayfield's family and friends have claimed the charges against him were politically motivated.

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at jgates@jackson.gannett.com or (601) 961-7212. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.