ZEIGLER - Dozens of residents attended a meeting at Zeigler City Hall on Tuesday to share their ire over what they feel is a lack of action by local authorities.

Tom Wallace of Zeigler said his son, Tommy, was hit over the head with a beer bottle on the night of Sept. 17.

After finding no one at the police station, he said his son cleaned himself up and went back to the scene of the incident with his 14-year-old son, where Tommy was beaten with a crowbar and a baseball bat and the youth was beaten with a baseball bat.

Wallace said his son was taken to Franklin Hospital and treated for fractured ribs and his grandson suffered a knot on the back of his head. He said various members of his family continue to receive threats from the alleged assailants.

Zeigler police, citing a continuing investigation, declined to comment. They have not reported arrests in the case.

Mayor Dennis Mitchell said the case files have been given to Franklin County State's Attorney Tom Dinn.

Wallace and his supporters voiced concern that the alleged assailants are still out on the streets.

"Who's protecting me, my kids and my grandkids from this crew?" Wallace asked. "I'm just not real happy with the way things are going."

Mitchell said there was nothing more he could do in the case and that it's now up to Dinn now. However, Mitchell said he was concerned with some of the choices that were made.

"I wouldn't have gone back there with my kid," Mitchell said.

Wallace said after the meeting that he agreed that some of the choices could have been better, but the attack cannot be ignored.

"He didn't deserve to get beaten with a crowbar and a baseball bat," Wallace said.

Many of Wallace's supporters left the meeting dissatisfied with the answers they received.

Wallace said he did not hold anything against the mayor or the city council and understands the events are not their fault; he is just concerned for his family.

"I have nothing against anyone whatsoever," Wallace said. "I just want to see something done."

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

351-5804