Joel Pile Is a Petty Tyrant and an Overly Sensitive Ass

I feel comfortable writing that, because I don't plan to visit Valley Center, Kansas any time soon.

He was cuffed, fingerprinted, booked into the Sedgwick County Jail and released on bail. His crime: putting up a yard sign critical of the Valley Center city administrator.

Jarrod West is out on bail, facing criminal defamation charges for a sign he put in his front yard about persistent flooding issues he says cost him over $50,000 over the last three years. The sign says, "Dear Valley Center, I did not buy Lake Front Property! Fix this problem. This is what I pay taxes for. PS. Joel this means you!" Joel being City Administrator Joel Pile…

When City Administrator Joel Pile saw the sign, West was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on a criminal charge of defamation. He spent the night behind bars and is now free on a $10,000 bond.

"I think it's an ego trip for somebody and I think somebody's abusing their ego and authority," said West.

"We've advised him of the process to come through the City Council," Pile told KSN.

Pile stands behind the criminal charge, saying West has acted with malice in criticizing him and he's been told any action to alleviate flooding has to come from the City Council.

"People and individuals have an absolute right to free speech," said Pile. "But however, when they do it and continue to do it within the realms of what we believe is actual malice for the purpose of holding me accountable to the public we believe that crosses a line."

Pile says the city will drop the charges against West if he stops blaming Pile for the flooding issues on his property.

How kind of Mr. Pile. Never criticize him, and you won't have to worry about him having you arrested.