Crime perception 'frustrates' mayor

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said he is frustrated with the crime perception in downtown Mobile.

He made remarks after an arrest was made in a New Year’s Day shooting.

With so many big events coming up, Mayor Jones said he wants Mobile to be seen as a safe place for all to enjoy.

He’s pushing the police department to make it happen.

On Monday, Jan. 7, Mobile police made a big arrest, locking up 17-year-old Demarkus Johnson. He’s been charged with felony assault for shooting a teen in the leg downtown on New Year’s Day, right as the fireworks was going off.

Johnson has been formally charged with first-degree assault.

He’s being held in the Mobile County metro jail.

Typically these kinds of arrests don’t warrant a press conference with the mayor, but this arrest was different because the crime happened during one of Mobile’s biggest tourist events.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said, "We have too many public events. We've just finished the Go Daddy bowl, we've got Mardi Gras coming up, we have to get people like that off the street."

"Anyone could've been hit by that gunshot,” said Mobile police Chief Micheal T. Williams.

So the Mobile police department is doing everything it can to stop these kinds of gun crimes, because perception is crucial.

“[The Mobile crime problem] is bad,” said a Baldwin County resident.

"I don't think there's much crime downtown as long as you come home at a decent hour,” said another man.

Businessman Steve Smith, with Buck’s Pizza said, "Word starts getting around about the bad stuff a lot quicker than it does about the good stuff."

Smith said a more positive image translates into bigger dollars during this prime tourist season.

Many say increased patrols can help the problem, but another solution could be more events for the downtown area.

Smith said, "We've got to get more family friendly events going on in downtown all the time. Not just once or twice a year, or special occasions like Christmas and other holidays like that."

When it comes down to business, public perception is paramount.