Hurricane Katrina and Prison
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, on August 29, Mike was at his home in the Lower Garden District with his then girlfriend. About eight hours after the beginning of the storm the power went out. By listening to battery powered radio announcements they were able to find out that the situation in New Orleans was quite bad. After the hurricane passed, the water in Williams neighborhood subsided. At this time violence and crime in the area became rampant and the police were not in a position to help the residents.
Inside the house they could hear gunshots and at one time, upon leaving the apartment, Williams's partner was confronted by a person who attempted to rob her. Williams intervened on her behalf. In order to escape the violence, Williams and his partner slept at the apartment of a friend. The following morning they borrowed a car and traveled to Morgan City, Louisiana, where Williams received word that his house had burned down.
They booked a hotel room in Morgan City. Apparently, the person who attended them could see they were from New Orleans because they had to show their identity document; for unknown reasons this person contacted the police. Members of the police entered Williams room and arrested him.
Williams was then convicted of drug possession and jailed. Bail was set at $150,000; an amount Williams was unable to afford. With help from his lawyer Williams filed for a bond reduction which was rejected by the court on the grounds that Williams was a threat to society. Williams was anxious at this time as his friends and associates were unaware that he was in prison. A fund to help to free Williams was created and his bandmates encouraged fans to send letters to him while he was in jail. Later, Phil Anselmo paid the bail money to have Williams released. Upon his release Williams spent several months staying at Anselmo's home.
Read more about this topic: Mike Williams (singer)
Famous quotes containing the words hurricane and/or prison:
“Staid middle age loves the hurricane passions of opera.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“He that has his chains knocked off, and the prison doors set open to him, is perfectly at liberty, because he may either go or stay, as he best likes; though his preference be determined to stay, by the darkness of the night, or illness of the weather, or want of other lodging. He ceases not to be free, though the desire of some convenience to be had there absolutely determines his preference, and makes him stay in his prison.”
—John Locke (1632–1704)