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Police chief suspended after pot-smoking video surfaces

A Mississippi police chief was suspended with pay after a video recorded by his “very vindictive” wife emerged, apparently showing the lawman smoking weed.

Lumberton Police Chief Shane Flynt is seen on a video obtained by WDAM babbling incoherently and puffing on a broken pipe — saying “I’m the only chief of police in Lumberton that likes to smoke weed.”

It’s unclear when the footage was recorded, but Christmas music can be heard periodically in the background and a clearly inebriated Flynt says at one point how much he likes “Rudolph the red-nose reindeers.”

Flynt’s police uniform is also clearly visible in the bizarre footage, in which he laughs maniacally about being the city’s top law enforcement officer while high.

“If this ain’t no cool s–t,” Flynt said. “You don’t know no cool s–t. Who the coolest is? Me! I’m the coolest!”

Flynt declined to comment on the video when approached by a reporter for the station, but he later posted a statement on Facebook acknowledging that he made a “huge mistake” and trusted the wrong person.

“They recorded me in a vulnerable state and they planned every minute of it,” Flynt wrote. “This person being my wife who is obviously very vindictive. I love serving the town of Lumberton, the people there are like family to me. It saddens my heart that I’ve disappointed many as well as myself.”

Shane FlyntFacebook

While saying there was “no excuse” for his actions, Flynt questioned “where would we all be” if hidden cameras were placed throughout homes without prior knowledge.

“What would our neighbors, preachers, co-workers, friends, etc., think of our conversations?” Flynt’s post continued. “There is no excuse. I pray you all find it in your hearts to show me grace and know that I am truly sorry for this incident.”

Lumberton Mayor Quincy Rogers said Flynt was sent home Tuesday after he saw the video and will remain suspended until the city’s board of aldermen can meet. The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

The city’s board of aldermen had suspended Flynt, who became chief of police in September, in February for a personnel matter but he was reinstated on Feb. 22.

“That’s quite disturbing,” Rogers told WDAM. “I’m still trying to get over this video.”