HAMPTON, Va.
Hampton University officials have hired renowned
attorney Johnnie Cochran and two Texas lawyers to consider taking legal
action against the city of Lubbock, Texas, for the wrongful arrest and
detainment of the Hampton women’s basketball coach, her husband, and an
assistant coach.
Hampton women’s basketball coach Patricia Bibbs, her husband Ezell
Bibbs, and assistant coach Vanetta Kelso were arrested by Lubbock
police on Nov. 16 in the parking lot of a Lubbock hotel after a witness
misidentified Kelso as a suspect in an attempted con. The three were
alleged to have participated in a con game, called the “pigeon drop” at
the site of a nearby Wal-Mart department store.
A “pigeon drop” involves a con artist telling a potential victim
that a purse with a lot of money has been found. The con artist then
tries to persuade the intended victim to put up some money to secure a
lawyer so that they both can lay claim to the purse.
Police handcuffed Bibbs, her husband, and Kelso and took them into
custody the day before the Hampton women’s basketball team was
scheduled to play the nationally ranked Texas Tech team in Lubbock.
At a news conference, the three said they never were read their
rights and were not informed for hours what crime they allegedly had
committed. The three were later released and allowed to leave Lubbock
County with no charges brought against them. The game was canceled.
On Nov. 19, Lubbock police chief Ken Walker told reporters during a
news conference the arrest resulted because of “mistaken identity” and
he declared that no charges would be fried against the Bibbses or Kelso.
