PARIS TN: Healthy Thyme health food store assault story in doubt

Absolutely disgraceful. If this was staged, SHAME on you, sir. Ever heard of the boy that cried wolf? Now God forbid this ever really does happen, that victim will be under so much unneccessary scrutiny.

Will there be the same uproar from the gay community that existed when this story was initially reported?

@Like It IsYes. If this is true and Mr. Williams has made his story all up, then it is despicable and a betrayal to many.

Not to say I called it, but... I called it. And to think I was called a homophobe for having the audacity to question the story. This stuff has been happening all the time. I hope all of you that were bashing Paris as backward and full of hate publicly apologize.

Honestly, is anyone surprised?

I'm just glad that we have police officers like Rickie Watson on the job, that can read through false and misleading evidence!!! This really is a disappointing situation, and I hope that Mr. Williams think about his actions in the future!!!

@mfrantom you and me both.AND come on LGBT community and retract your statements now! first to get wound up and the last to let go, I guess it was Phil Robertson's fault.NO ONE deserves to be assaulted, robbed, beat, killed for any reason but to incite and act like this lifestyle deserves more attention is in itself discriminationSMH

@citizenBeing gay is not a lifestyle, any more than being straight is. Also, I assume that when you talk about getting attention you're talking about recognizing something as a hate crime and spreading awareness about it, correct? If so, then I would say that when a hate crime occurs it needs to be recognized as such and awareness needs to be raised about it and the attitudes that caused it. Like I've said before, if this is true and Mr. Williams made up his story, then yes, the gay community will and should speak out against him. He lied to us, and that is despicable.

We should have ALL been horrified when we thought the story to be true and we should ALL be sickened to learn that it is not. How can we possibly be divided on this issue?! Regardless of your beliefs, being united on this story takes NO effort.

@Homosexual agenda Sure its a lifestyle, a choice, I know that's not what the LGBT community wants to hear but it is, we all have choices to as we live our lives/lifestyles don't try to make this a born trait. I was born with a desire to steal and have sex with lots of women, but guess what I do neither.The alleged crime should not be thought of any different because of his sexual choice. That is a form of discrimination to say that an assault of a gay person is worse than the assault of a straight person.

Rang false right from the start. I don't think people who assault gays shop in a health food store usually.

Are you serious? You do not believe him? Joe beat himself up and,set the store on fire? Why would he do that? He does not own the building. He has lost everything . He loved the store. Joe is one of the nicest people I have ever known . He lived next door to me in North Chattanooga three years ago. He is very generous. He now has PTSD. Paris is one that will loose I was considering moving back but do not want to now. I.will stay in Chattanooga. I am a Seventh Day Adventist. I am so proud that Collegedale was the first city in Tennessee to allow same sex benefits for Detective Kat Cooper and her wife Krista. I have always thought Paris was very Gay friendly guess that is changing. So sad.Lea Oliver

So "Citizen" what age did you choose to be heterosexual? Exactly .... you didn't choose to be heterosexual. I never chose to be heterosexual .... I just AM. Homosexuals do not CHOOSE to be homosexual ..... they just ARE. It's not a life choice any more than your life choice to be heterosexual. If you have a desire to steal and have sex with lots of women, you have even more problems.

To citizen... I will, for now, just go with the idea that you don't know any better.But, being gay or lesbian is not a choice they make... it's a born trait and you are insulting the intelligence of everyone that knows this to be true with your comment.You need to get your facts right before you post. It just make you look uninformed or stupid... or both.It's like being pregnant... you either are or you're not.

Now accusing this person of beating his own self is not only asinine but misleading to say the least. Condoning these actions by the police and others involved is criminal and the truth coming out will discredit all who have seats of authority in paris tenn and maybe more. Shame on you is only reserved for people who have morals and the police judge and district attorney do not have any. So h--- is where you will go!

@citizenAll I'll say is, no dude. There is no "gay lifestyle". Think of the term "heterosexual lifestyle" and see how much sense that makes. Not all gay people have the same lifest., mostly because sexual attraction/orientation is not a lifestyle. You say that you were born with a desire to steal? Go see a go psychologist, they'll do wonders. I don't get what … that has to do with this subject in the first place. Yes I firmly believe that homosexuality is a genetic trait. I've been attracted to guys as far as I can remember. And as for hate crimes: They do need to be addressed. A hate crime is different from a regular crime, because in a hate crime, a person is targeted because of who they are, and that is a disturbing and horrible fact. I'm not going to get into an argument about whether or not they're worse than other crimes.

OK first off, it doesn't matter if he is white black Hispanic pink purple gay or straight. Why are people talking about that in every comment? I was shocked when I read the story of what happened. And I thought it had something to do with the gang being in town during the murder trial. I thought it was horrid to have that happen to a person, especially one who helped people. Now I feel it is awful that it may not have happened at all. But I do wonder if maybe he is lying because someone has threatened him. That is honestly the only thing I can think of that would make someone lie or have inconsistencies in something like this because I cant understand why someone would make something up like this.

Victim of Brutal anti gay hate Crime faces torment by police. Please before you fall for the tricks, see what the guy himself has to say, not what the police are saying about him. http://revolution-news.com/victim-brutal-anti-gay-hate-crime-faces-torment-police-tennessee/

Read thishttp://revolution-news.com/victim-brutal-anti-gay-hate-crime-faces-torment-police-tennessee/

Tthe crime should be punished. if he told the truth or not. if hr is innocent, the attackers should get punished. if he lied, he should.be punished. being gay is his choice. i do not believe in gay being a born trait. God created us all in his image. God said we are not to judge, so we shouldn't. let God do the judging.

Will the store owner be prosecuted for this hetero hate crime?

You are inferring that being a homosexual is as wrong and as hurtful as someone who steals. I disagree.

Anyone read this little piece of yellow journalism yet?http://revolution-news.com/victim-brutal-anti-gay-hate-crime-faces-torment-police-tennessee/

@Lea Oliver, You asked "why would he do that?" Ever hear of insurance fraud? The police should take a look at the store's books? Just how well could a health food store be doing in Paris? I'm not accusing. I'm simply saying it's a possibility.

You people are all crazy. He didn't make it up. You just all wish he did, so that it's less work on the police.

to all who espouse homosexuality is inborn, all I can ask for is proof.no one to this point has proven a genetic link, in fact, quite the opposite.it is a sin (choice) as is adultery, fornication, abortion (murder), bestiality (yes, I said that) and pedophilia (I also said that), theft, lying, etc.your belief does not change the truth

Everyone is assuming that because he is being excused of making up the story that he actually did make it up. How about waiting this out before throwing around "I told you so..." or "He should be ashamed!"

Joe Williams has been a good friend of mine since he came to Paris to work at the health food store several years ago. Joe is a very intellegent person and could go anywhere with the knowledge that he uses in his line of work and make much more money than he does owning his own business. Unless we're talking about a hate-crime, his or anyone else's sexuality bear no meaning on this. If he did the crime then he needs help; if the PPD are lacking in their discovery methods in this case, then they need more help such as the TBI but why waste time going back and forth about different sexual preferences and not go ahead and get to the bottom of this case instead of draging it out here in the news media? Everyone has their ideas but who's right and who's wrong????

The comments are sad. All the "Christians" being the judge and jury. I guess everone forgot that ALL sins can be forgiven for the victim and the person that commited the crime. I am so glad that I do not have to stand before any of these people for anything bc apparently none of you have ever made a mistake.

http://revolution-news.com/victim-brutal-anti-gay-hate-crime-faces-torment-police-tennessee/ What ever the truth is in this case, the above story is a complete joke. There are more than several libelous statements in it. I smell a lawsuit brewing against this rag."And the list of politicians at the bottom of the article that "could probably care less about justice."? LIBELAnd to use Mr. Hart as an example of what the average Parisian is like? How sad. He has severe mental health issues and everyone in town knows it ….

Jon you left out eating pork and shellfish.

Anyone...anyone...anyone !!!! with good common sense HAD to know when this story came out that it was NOT what he said it was ! Really ? Go back and see what he said happen....be your own investigator and see what he has to say and go from there. He was robbed ? OK...He was beaten? OK....He had a slur wrote on his forehead? OK....His place was set on fire? OK...They ran from the building but police nor a dog could track or find them? OK...Maybe one of these things happens to you, but no one is that blame unlucky to have a handful of bad thing happen in one event ! Really ?I did not think it happen when I first heard about it and turns out I was right.Sounds like the police now have it figured out as well. Sorry Joe...you anit no Joe the plumber and John McCain can't get you out of this mess. You should have just told the truth up front and saved face.

Joe turned himself in to police who had a warrant for his arrest. He has not admitted to any crime... in fact he says he is innocent of the charges and he is frustrated that the police have done nothing to try to find his perpetrators! How dare any of you make assumptions when you have no proof of anything. Most of these comments just show how ignorant you really are! We should help in any way we can to get to the truth and make sure an innocent man is not convicted of something he didn't do. If it is proven that he is lying and beat himself up, then I too will be on the side of the law!

@"like it is" You seem outraged that Mr. Hart was depicted along with the story published because he's not an accurate example of our citizenry. I believe that he's a closer example than we are comfortable with admitting. Check to see how many votes he gets when he runs in an election. It's scary. People vote for him. People in this county ARE racists, homophobic, bigots, etc.... and we don't like it when people call us out on it. The article may be "yellow journalism" but there were some "spot on" observations about our little community.

Anyone who links that "Revolution News" article and expects us to treat it as legitimate investigative journalism needs to seriously question their own intelligence. Everything in that article is something they say they heard from someone in town. They never say who told them what. However, we are supposed to believe that Moody Realty, New Harmony, and Neo-Nazis run Paris. That's news to me. They also use a photo from Dover to show how we are Nazis, a photo of Jimmy Hart to show how we all believe whites should rule the world, and, of course, a reference to the Cumberland River - which is 2 hours from Paris. Please, for the sake of the children, if you are swayed by that pathetic "news" source, leave Henry County now and never come back.

I see slander in this write up! yes, there are people all over the world that have there own opinion. if someone choses not to rent out a business, then that's there right. if someone choses not to buy from the business no matter what circumstance, that's there right. To say that all the policeman as a whole was hateful and treated this man bad, is not right. If a person is in interrogation they do raise there voices of course they won't baby you no matter who you are. They offer sodas to all people who are interrogated. I see a lot of whining going on and pointing fingers that is not called for. Anytime there inconsistencies in a report, you will look guilty no matter who you are. Why would someone try to get you to say something about someone that's not true; if they are trying to solve a case? NO, I DON'T I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GAYS , SO BECAUSE I FEEL THIS WAY, DON'T GO THERE. I have people in my family and I have friends that are gay. I don't necessary agree with it, but it's not my right to judge. I just feel if you are going to call people out then you need to do individually and not the entire department and community.

@mfrantom The Cumberland River runs right through Dover which is only 30 minutes from Paris. Most other things in the article are true also even though we wish they weren't.

I saw the man after he was assaulted. His wounds were inconsistent with self infliction and the words written across his forehead were block style, straight and easily legible. He may have been inconsistent with telling the events of the story but he was indeed assaulted.

For those of you that think he did this to himself, your ignorance is almost comical. … As to the allegation that he did this to himself, I read the article that was referenced above and did some research. For those of you who don't think that what happened to this man is true … wake up and smell reality, Paris.

A gay guy in Mo. was arrested a few years ago, because he burned his store and spray painted a gay slur on the concrete wall outside. They get media attention from the PC crowd. Start ignoring them, and it will stop,

@ Jane-Certainly there are racists, homophobes, and bigots in this country and this county. There is no room for it. Byt using Mr. Hart as an example? If people took him seriously (whether he garners a few votes in elections or not), he would already be dead."Yellow journalism" is being kind. I am a huge supporter of free speech, but there is a huge difference in freedom of speech and making libelous statements.

Wow, this comment section shows how terrible your town is. I bet you're all proud too...

David Barker, Healthy Thyme was successful.. I have seen them do $3,000.00 days. Joe and Robert have two other businesses. This business will be missed.

That sad reality is virtually all anti gay hate crimes take place in liberal areas, committed by racial minorities. They will ignore that becaues it's not politically correct.

Same old same old liberal lies. See Michelle Malkin's website for a long list of fake hate crimes including Al Sharpton/Tawana Brawley and the Duke Lacrosse lies.

Have any of you with negative comments about Mr. Williams stopped and asked yourself how the man could possibly inflicted enough damage to himself that he had to spend the night in the hospital?… This matter has not gone to court and no one has been proven guilty of anything. The positive thing to do would be to bring in an outside investigation by at least the TBI if not the FBI.

This article is biased, small-town, accusation-ridden muckraking at it's worst. How about your reporter take a journalism class about how to write an unbiased, neutral story just reporting the facts without putting innuendo in every syllable.

I lived in Paris and surrounding areas west of LBL from 1984 til 2003- all my childhood and teen years.… I Love Healthy Thyme Forever and Always!

If it turns out he is telling a story, I would like to apologize in advance on behalf of gay folks everywhere because this is the kind of thing that makes people weary of others. We sure don't need anymore of that piled up at this point considering all the disagreements in society.

OK, where was the outrage from the defenders of the downtrodden and the maligned after the Obama administration stood silent by, went to bed even, while terrorists killed and sodomized the gay ambassador to Lybia along with three other Americans? The former Navy Seals fought to try to save the lives of Stevens and his aide and gave their lives defending them. Yet, the leftist groups never miss an opportunity to bash the military.Where are you and your noise when the Muslim Brotherhood hangs homosexuals in Iraq? You remain strangely silent until some incident like this gives you something to bark at here in America.

I do not condone anyone being mistreated for any reason. We are all Gods children and should love one another and try to educate the few homosexuals in the states as to why their lifestyle is a sinful one and what the bible says. I personally don't agree at all with all the pro gay media which desensitized the youth of today in to believing this lifestyle is acceptable. All the gay rights advocates will look pretty silly and foolish if their current poster child is found to be nothing more than a good story teller, as most of the gay rights community embellishes events in order to further their sinful cause. Homosexuality is a choice not a genetic trait. The media today is trying to desensitize everyone with all the gay propaganda today which is wrong. One day, we will all have to answer for all of our sins. spreading hate is not the answer for anti gay people, nor is spreading acceptance for the sinful behavior for the gays. Let the law do its job! Justice will be served if his story is true or false.

Mr. Joe Williams is probably leaving our town and I hate that he is. I have never had the privilege of meeting him but I have talked to him on the phone. He was helping one of my clients and I feel he was REALLY helping him! We have looked everywhere for the herbs he had him on and cant find them. I'm so sorry that he is being treated this way. I stick with my earlier comment. I don't believe he did this to himself. If somehow its come to light that he hasn't told the TRUE truth, I think its because he is scared and/or someone has threatened him! Joe, you probably don't read these comments but you will be missed at least I can say that!

I have in my life always consider myself fortunate to grow up in Henry County. I moved away several years ago, but frequently return. Not only am I formally from Paris, I am formally a Christian. I am also formally homophobic. I have always marveled at the passion that people display at their outright disdain for homosexuality. it seems from reading this article that this was what most of Paris considered the being the crime. No that a person had been attacked and nearly murdered in the center of their hometown, but that their person was homosexual. I don't consider homosexuality a sin. … I'm 100% certain that if this crime had been committed by a hot bi sexual female, someone would have been arrested by now. I find it very hard to believe that this crime was faked for two very obvious reasons. I'll tell you one, I'll let you ponder the other. Take a piece of paper and a marker and go to your bathroom mirror, then try to write your name on the paper while holding it up too your forehead. If you actually do it, you'll find it's next to impossible to do. Most of have lost sight of what this country is about, because you think you're entitled to dictate every other American's life. Not everyone is a Christian, not everyone believes in God. This man is innocent until proven guilty. He is afford the same civil rights under the constitution of the United States as you are. The police officer in the case is sworn to uphold that Constitution. He is a disgrace to the badge he wears if he has another agenda. He has the right to a fair trial. But for those of you who insist on judging others …, I'll remind you of one simple scripture from a book that you have probably never actually read. John 8:3-7, "The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?' They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'”

The fact that this case can even be questioned as false is terrifying. Not only was there ample evidence that this attack occurred (how would he beat himself up and write a slur on his own forehead?) but if the cops don't believe it happened, why would they report that three BLACK SUSPECTS were involved? Especially when the victim stated they were white. For whatever reason, Paris law enforcement and politics are refusing to properly investigate this case. It's terrifying and unsettling the way that so much misinformation (that conveniently fits a certain agenda) has come out. You're going to arrest the victim of a violent attack for not remembering everything clearly right off the bat? First of all, have you ever dealt with a victim of violent crime before? Shock can take years to completely wear off. Secondly, if you are going to arrest someone for "adding to the story" shouldn't you avoid getting the facts in the very same case COMPLETELY wrong/changing them back and forth? The handling of this whole situation is just completely incompetent and inconsistent. But what bothers me the most are the people in this community who "called it" or "expected" him to be lying. That man loved this community enough to open a store here and put all his hard work into it. By all accounts, he has treated everyone here with kindness. Personally, he has been very eager to help me with anything I've gone in there for. He cares about our community enough to try and help us to improve our lifestyles and health and people are still waiting for him to turn out to be a liar. That disgusts me.

I love that you bunch of backwoods hicks believes whatever you read on the internet and the lies of your little backwoods hick friends just because its convenient. This article and the police report dont even mention the so called "changes" in the story. The guy was beat the h--- up, of course more stuff will come to mind to tell the police later. What if this was your son? Hope your whole town is wiped off the face of the earth by a tornado in May.Tired of turning the other cheek for you people. Time you get some hate pointed right back at you.