The city of Selma has dismissed disorderly conduct charges against Rose Sanders stemming from a Nov. 26 city council meeting.

City prosecutor Ed Green said city officials recommended the charges be dropped. Municipal Judge Prince Chestnut’s law office confirmed Selma Mayor George Evans suggested the dismissal. Though, Chestnut technically dismissed the charges as the municipal judge.

“It was recommended to me that we should drop the charges based on their understanding of the case,” Green said. “The city has decided not to pursue this case.”

When asked if Evans had the authority to ask for the dismissal, Green said the suggestion wasn’t any different than if an average citizen made the same request.

“He has about as much as anyone,” he said. “Anybody can make a recommendation.”

Sanders also said Evans didn’t do anything wrong by suggesting the dismissal.

“Of course he has the authority to suggest a dismissal,” she said. “Mayor (Joe T.) Smitherman did it all the time. Mayor Evans has not done anything that other mayors have not done.”

Sanders was escorted out of the council meeting, arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after expressing her discontent with the city council’s approval of a settlement with KTK Mining. She was booked into the Dallas County Jail and placed under a $1,000 bond.

The settlement was approved by a 5-3 vote, with one council member absent.

The settlement terms include giving Chapter 53 of the United Daughters of Confederacy a deed to a one-acre tract of land in Old Live Oak Cemetery, containing a monument to former KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest. Other terms include allowing KTK Mining to replace the bronze bust of Forrest, but not allowing the original plans to construct a taller structure; installing cameras and lighting; making the circle handicap accessible; placing a cannon on a pedestal previously intended to raise the monument’s height and paying a total of $100,000 to KTK Mining for a violation of the company’s due process rights.

Sanders jumped up immediately after the bill’s passage and began shouting at the city’s attorneys and the city council. Selma City Council president Corey Bowie asked Sanders be removed.

Selma Police officer Lt. Curtis Muhannad escorted Sanders out of the building and she continued shouting.

“Go ahead, I don’t care, arrest me,” Sanders said as she was escorted from the meeting.

Shortly after her arrest, Evans visited Sanders in jail, Sanders said.

Sanders said she had never asked Evans to visit her and that she had preferred to stay in jail.

“I was determined to stay in jail,” she said. “People around the country began to call and were going to come. By releasing me they did themselves a favor.”

Evans declined to comment about the dismissed charges.

Bowie said he was unaware of Evans’ involvement, but added the city council’s original intent wasn’t to have Sanders arrested.