Alabama deputies fatally shoot man who fired at utility worker, sheriff says
Deputies on Wednesday fatally shot a man who earlier had fired a gun at a utility worker trying to shut off his water and later pointed a firearm at deputies, authorities said. The shooting happened in Russell County, in eastern Alabama, near the Georgia state line. The man “fired a round” at the water works employee who had gone to the home to shut off water service, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said at a news conference. Deputies were then sent to the water works building to take a report, and saw the man leaving the parking lot, Taylor said. They pulled the man over during a traffic stop and shot him after he “presented a firearm out the window” of his vehicle, Taylor said. The man’s name was not released. The deputies and the utility worker were not hurt. Taylor said he did not think the man fired at the deputies, but their actions were appropriate. “This is a bad scenario. You don’t point a weapon at law enforcement, whether you are legal to have that weapon or not. This is a result, unfortunately, of a weapon being pointed at a deputy in a traffic stop,” the sheriff said. “And it could have ended so many different ways, and I am truly sorry that he has lost his life.” The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is reviewing the shooting, which was caught on video. The recording will not be released at this time due to the investigation, Taylor said. Taylor said he believes the man might have gone to the water works building “to get in another altercation with his firearm with the people at the water works,” but left when he saw the deputies. The man had previously been denied a permit to carry a concealed handgun, the sheriff said. Taylor did not elaborate on why but said he had caused an altercation at a courthouse and been noted in law enforcement files as a “mental patient” who had a weapon. Since the earlier permit denial, Alabama has abolished a law requiring concealed carry permits. The two deputies involved in the shooting were on administrative leave with pay. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Two dead in severe weather Tuesday night
Severe weather swept across the state late Tuesday night thru the early morning hours. Two people have been reported killed in the Flatwoods community in Montgomery County. There is reported damage across parts of the state, particularly in Montgomery, Greene, Elmore, and Hale Counties. A 39-year-old woman and an eight-year-old boy were killed in the Flatwoods Community in Montgomery County when a tree fell on their mobile home. Other people were injured in the home. “It’s absolutely looking like a small community’s been wiped off the map,” said Christina Thornton – the director of the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency – speaking of Flatwoods. “It’s really devastating to think about when you look across the field, and you know that there were homes there the day before on your way to work. And when you’re leaving work this morning, they’re not going to be there.” The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reported that a shelter was being opened at the Union Academy Baptist Church at 4748 Lower Wetumpka Road for the residents who were displaced by the nearby destruction. There are a number of homes destroyed in Montgomery County. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency wrote on Facebook, “On Wednesday, Nov. 30, severe overnight storms and possible tornados have caused several road closures. The following roads within Montgomery County have been reported to have trees and powerlines down, Lower Wetumpka Road, Coosada Ferry Road, and Williams Drive. The following roads within Elmore County have also been reported to have trees and powerlines down Dark Corners Road, Friendship Road and Rifle Range Road.” Crews are on the scene working on getting all the roads reopened today. The Sagewood Apartments complex in Eutaw in Greene County was destroyed by an apparent tornado leaving dozens of residents homeless this morning. ABC 33/40’s Megan Scarano reported on her Facebook feed, “As the sun rises….This is the reality this morning for some families at Sagewood Apartments in Eutaw. Their home was torn to shreds. You can see straight through bedrooms, hallways, and you can see insulation hanging in the wind. Siding, shingles, and wood is laying all over their backyard. You can hear the fire alarms going off in the background as well. “ Eutaw Police Chief Tommy Johnson told Scarano that “they believe no one is injured.” First responders moved the displaced residents to Carver Middle School during the immediate crisis, but they will need to find new housing in the immediate future. Be aware that there will be power crews and highway crews out on the roads today as they work to reopen roads, remove storm damage, and restore power, so expect delays and please slow down for their safety and your own. Congresswoman Terri Sewell wrote on Facebook, “My heart goes out to everyone impacted by last night’s severe storms, especially the families of those who lost their lives or were injured. My team and I are closely monitoring the damage and stand ready to assist. We will get through this together!” Severe weather can strike at any time of the year in moisture-rich Alabama. More people have died in Alabama from tornados since the 1940s, when accurate records first began being kept, than in any other state. Texas is second. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama investing in safety of state troopers
Troopers within the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are expected to benefit from a new investment. Alabama has awarded a $20,365 grant to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Gov. Kay Ivey said, that will be used to buy new bulletproof vests. The grant funding comes from dollars awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice. Ivey said it was “imperative” to provide additional protection for state troopers. “I cannot say thank you enough to our state troopers and all law enforcement officers in Alabama who put their lives on the line when they put on that badge,” Ivey said in a release. “It is my prayer that no officers are injured or worse because of someone’s senseless and selfish actions. These vests will provide an added layer of protection when our officers enter potentially dangerous situations.” According to the release, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the grant from funds to give law enforcement agencies the chance to buy or replace protection equipment for officers. “All of us feel tremendously saddened when an officer is injured or killed in the line of duty,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said in a release. “ According to the release, the agency provides an array of programs supporting law enforcement, in addition to victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation, and recreation. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Alabama closing driver license offices for computer update
Forget about getting a new drivers license in Alabama for a while: The state is temporarily shutting down all its licensing offices for a technology upgrade. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said it will close drivers license offices statewide beginning Monday to update a computer system that’s been used for almost 20 years. The agency plans to reopen them on April 26. State law has a 60-day grace period for license renewals, and Etowah County Probate Judge Scott Hassell said he expects officials to forgive people whose license expires during the shutdown. “We wanted to get the word out just so people will know what is going on,” he told The Gadsden Times. Besides new computer hardware, data on file since 1970 will be converted into the new Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License System, the state said in a news release. While neither in-person nor online services will be available to the public during the transition, state examiners will continue to administer road tests for regular and commercial licenses. County offices will be open only for revenue and probate services. “We understand that it may cause an inconvenience to some citizens that will not have full access of the driver license division’s resources and capabilities, but we assure everyone the result will be impressive, providing significant improvements for both citizens as well as driver license employees across the state,” Hal Taylor, head of the state police agency, said in a statement. Colorado-based Fast Enterprises, a technology company, is working on the new system, which will let applicants enter information before arriving at an office, officials said. It will also allow users to update personal information through an online system. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Paul DeMarco: Alabama lawmakers side with liberal interest group over state public safety officials
Some lawmakers in the Alabama Legislature are again showing that their “law and order” campaign promises do not necessarily match their actions in the state capitol. This past week a bill being pushed by Alabama Appleseed that would weaken the state’s ability to suspend driver’s licenses for those who do not pay their traffic tickets passed the Alabama House Judiciary Committee. The Alabama Senate has already passed a version of this bill. The bill raised strong opposition from the office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The concern is if this bill becomes law, it will take away a punishment to deter those that break the law from being held accountable for traffic violations and associated fines. Further, law enforcement argues that there are already ample safeguards in place that indigent offenders can take advantage of, such as requesting a payment plan for their fines. Despite efforts to convince lawmakers this legislation was not in the best interest of public safety, a version of this bill passed the full Senate and the House Judiciary Committee. Notably, the State of Alabama is in active litigation against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which has tried, and failed, to have Alabama’s current law on driver’s license suspensions struck down. Thus, both Alabama House and Senate members have voted to help the SPLC in their efforts to dismantle the State’s hard-earned victory in court to pass legislation that public safety officials were fighting. Hopefully, this bill will die in the few remaining days of the Alabama Legislative session, but shame on Alabama legislators–particularly Republicans–for either not doing their homework or for putting the interests of a liberal advocacy group above public safety. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Bill advances to allow concealed handguns without permit
Alabama lawmakers advanced legislation Wednesday that would end the requirement for a person to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the House-passed bill, which now moves to the Alabama Senate. Gun rights advocates have championed the proposal they call “constitutional carry.” They argue that people should not have to get a permit, which requires a background check and paying a fee, to carry a handgun they legally own. Many state sheriffs and other law enforcement officials have opposed the legislation, arguing the permits provide a crucial tool to combat crime and enhance public safety. Republican Rep. Shane Stringer, the sponsor of the bill, said people “shouldn’t have to get permission to carry” a legally owned handgun. “House Bill 272 simply allows law-abiding citizens that are legally able to own a firearm to carry that gun concealed or on or about their persons or in their vehicle without a permit,” Stringer, a former captain with the Mobile County sheriff’s office, told the committee. Law enforcement officials spoke against the bill in a public hearing “I assure you, it would take away some of our ability to protect our communities with a tool that effectively removes weapons from the hands of criminals,” Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, the current president of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association, told the committee. Alabama currently requires people to get a concealed carry permit, which requires a background check, to carry a handgun under their clothes or in a purse or bag when they go in public. The bill would do away with the requirement, but people could still choose to get a permit if they wanted. It would also do away with the current requirement for people without concealed carry permits to keep handguns unloaded and secured when driving. There are 21 states that allow concealed weapons in public without a permit, according to Stateline, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts. “In the 21 states that have passed this legislation, there’s been absolutely no increase in crime or decrease in officer safety as associated with the law. That will remain the same here in Alabama,” Art Thomm, state director for the National Rifle Association, told the committee. A Democratic member of the committee, who recently had her home shot into 23 times, questioned the assertion that there would be no impact on crime. “It’s already like a wild, wild west. And I can just only imagine that this is going to help it escalate somewhat because people are going feel more brazen,” said Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, a Democrat from Mobile. Proponents of the bill said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is developing a database, authorized by a state law creating a lifetime concealed carry permit option, that officers will be able to use to flag people not legally entitled to carry a handgun. Stringer maintained that will be a better tool for law enforcement officers to remove guns from people who can not legally possess them. The database is not operational yet. Jones said that while the idea of the database is good, he believes it will have inevitable gaps in data. Amanda Wasden, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said the database is currently in the developmental phase. She said the testing phase will begin in August, and the agency has a goal of having it fully operational by Oct. 1 as the law requires. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama temporarily closing drivers license offices during revamp
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency plans to temporarily close drivers license offices statewide for more than a week in late April to update a computer system that’s been used for almost 20 years, officials said. A statement from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office said license offices will shut down starting April 18, with plans to reopen on April 26. In addition to new computer hardware, data on file since 1970 will be converted into the new Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License System. While neither in-person nor online services will be available to the public during the transition, a statement said, state examiners will continue to administer road tests for regular and commercial licenses. County offices will be open only for revenue and probate services. Once operating, the new system will let applicants enter information before arriving at an office, officials said. It will also allow users to update personal information through an online system. Fast Enterprises, a Colorado-based technology company, is working on the project for the state. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Kay Ivey awards $1.6 million to law enforcement agencies
Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $1.6 million to aid in the fight against illegal drugs and drug-related crime in Alabama. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the state’s seven regional drug task forces will each receive $202,557. The funds will be used to continue the battle against drug sellers, manufacturers, and users and to stop the sale and illegal use of pharmaceutical drugs. “Public safety is at the forefront of our mission, and I am proud to aid our law enforcement in the battle against illegal drugs and crime,” stated Ivey. “As I said last night during my state of the state address, we will continue working to make Alabama a great state to live, work and raise a family for years to come. No doubt, that includes keeping our communities safe and free of crime. I commend the important work being done by ALEA and these task forces.” These task forces were formed in 2018 and are made up of members from law enforcement agencies within their region. Each region comprises eight to 12 counties. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds from the U.S. Department of Justice and will be used to cover overtime, and operational and equipment expenses. ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management, and recreation development. “ADECA is pleased to play a role in this program that helps take drugs off the streets and make our communities safer,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell stated. “We join Gov. Ivey in commending the work of these task forces.”
Kay Ivey awards two grants to ALEA to update sex offender tracking system
Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded two grants, totaling $143,192, to enhance public safety in Alabama. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency received the grants that will help keep track of sex offenders and ensure that the state is up to date on a new federal crime reporting method. The Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act assists law enforcement agencies in keeping track of sex offenders. The National Incident-Based Reporting Summary (NIBRS) is a new national crime reporting system that is more comprehensive and all-encompassing than the current system it is replacing. According to the FBI website, the NIBRS was implemented to improve the overall quality of crime data collected by law enforcement. The system captures details on each single crime incident—as well as on separate offenses within the same incident—including information on victims, known offenders, relationships between victims and offenders, arrestees, and property involved in crimes. “ALEA and our local law enforcement agencies throughout Alabama do a superb, yet often unappreciated job of maintaining law and order in our state,” Gov. Ivey stated. “This funding will help provide the needed financial resources to maintain and update registries as required by federal and state laws.” The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice. “ADECA is pleased to partner with Gov. Ivey and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in these measures to improve public safety,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell stated. ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management, and recreation development.
Martha Roby: The Alabama Fusion Center is working to protect our students and schools
It’s hard to believe that the summer months are behind us and we will soon be welcoming Fall and cooler temperatures. Students across our state are working hard to make this new school year successful, and college football season is officially underway. Since the school year is in full swing, I wanted to take this opportunity to share some important information about school and student safety I recently received during my visit to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Fusion Center a few weeks ago. For those who might not be aware, the Alabama Fusion Center exists to improve our state’s preparedness against terrorist attacks and to deter criminal activity in general. It is an information-sharing organization designed to combine – or “fuse” – information between federal, state and local governments, private sector entities, and the intelligence community. The Fusion Center has very dedicated personnel who cover several specific areas, including the issuing of AMBER Alerts, rural crime, cybercrime, terrorism, narcotics, gangs, and human trafficking. The center is also responsible for the Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Importantly for school children, teachers, and families, the Fusion Center has a system in place to help schools know whether threats made against them are real or not. During the 2018-2019 school year, there were more than 1,600 threats across the United States, ranging from guns brought on campus to bomb threats to actual school shootings. During my recent visit to the Fusion Center, Director Jay Moseley explained to me that once notified of threats, the center can determine where threats are coming from and whether they pose immediate danger. The Fusion Center relies on law enforcement entities across the country as well as members of the public to alert them to suspicious activity on the Internet and social media. Director Moseley has asked the public to report anything suspicious. You can contact the Fusion Center by calling (334) 517-2660. In addition to monitoring outside threats to schools, the Fusion Center helps train school resource officers to recognize the signs of a student who is being bullied, experiencing suicidal thoughts, and more. It is critically important for those who work with children daily to have the tools they need to identify at-risk students before the situation becomes life-threatening, and I really appreciate our Fusion Center’s work in this matter. I always enjoy spending time with the hardworking, dedicated professionals at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Fusion Center. I appreciated their time and the informative update about the critically important work they are doing each day to combat crimes, especially those against children. These men and women are on the front lines fighting some of the most serious problems that plague our state, and I am grateful for their work. In Congress, I will do all I can to support their efforts. Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
Spencer Collier lists AL.com’s John Archibald passenger day of accident on witness list in Robert Bentley case
Last week, a witness list was released in an ongoing defamation lawsuit filed against former-Gov. Robert Bentley by his former law enforcement chief Spencer Collier. Collier, who is currently the Selma police chief, sued Bentley in 2016. He contends the former Governor wrongfully fired him in March 2016 as secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and then tried to discredit him with a sham state investigation. Flash forward to August 2017 and Collier was injured in a two vehicle car crash on Hwy 80 in Montgomery County that led to an investigation, since at the time of the crash Collier was driving an unmarked police SUV issued to him by the city of Selma. Ultimately Collier was cleared of any wrong-doing. After months of coverage on the suit, Alabama Today was tipped off this week to one glaring omission from all of the coverage written thus far: nestled 11 pages deep in a 12 page document, is one key fact: AL.com’s John Archibald was in the with Spencer the day of the wreck. “If any Defendant makes Collier’s wreck of August 14, 2017, an issue, Collier reserves the right to call any witness who has information of Collier’s condition on the day of the wreck including Selma Police Officers, the Selma PD Dispatcher, the Custodian of Records for the Selma PD and al.com columnist John Archibald who rode with Collier on the day of the wreck,” reads the subpoena. According to WSFA-12 the crash report revealed at around 7:45 p.m.: Collier’s vehicle was traveling east on U.S. 80 when it left the roadway, re-entered, then over corrected. Collier’s vehicle then began spinning before crossing the median and striking a second vehicle. The reports indicate Collier told investigators he did not remember anything about the crash or the events leading up to it. The driver of the second vehicle told investigators that when he realized Collier’s vehicle was starting to the cross the median, he hit his brakes and tried to take evasive action to avoid the collision. The report also shows investigators took a blood sample from Collier and submitted it to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. In dozens of articles about the crash — Times Daily, Lagniappe Mobile, Selma Times Journal, WSFA-12, Montgomery Advertiser, Decatur Daily, Alabama News Net — we found no mention of Archibald being in the car with Collier that day. In fact, AL.com, who usually doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to covering everything happening in the state, did not cover the accident whatsoever. Out of 810 articles that mention Collier, there’s not a single one that talks about the car crash where one of their writers, who also happens to now be a Pulitzer Prize winner, was with Collier some time prior to the wreck. Here’s where things get interesting. While the crash is seemingly unrelated to Collier’s firing and subsequent lawsuit, the toxicology report also appears to significant to Bentley in the suit with Collier. In December 2017, the former Governor attempted to subpoena the reports from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS). In addition to the toxicology results, Bentley also subpoenaed all documents related to the wreck and “any and all communications related to your investigation into Collier’s car accident… including without limitation any internal communications.” Archibald has further clarified in a tweet to Alabama Today that he was not in the car with Collier at the time of the accident, but rather with him earlier in the day. “Are you saying I was a passenger in Collier’s wreck? I was not. We filmed him in his cop car earlier in the day,” tweeted Archibald. Are you saying I was a passenger in Collier’s wreck? I was not. We filmed him in his cop car earlier in the day. — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) January 30, 2019 See the full subpoena below: *Headline and article have been updated to reflect John Archibald were not in the wreck together. Rather Archibald was a passenger in Collier’s car that day.
Activists focusing on Alabama officials after mall shooting
Demonstrations that have targeted an Alabama city where police shot and killed a black man on Thanksgiving will be redirected toward state officials now investigating the shooting, organizers said Wednesday. Leaders speaking at a news conference said demonstrations targeting the Birmingham suburb of Hoover would now focus on state officials who are investigating the shooting death of Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr. They promised protests at the homes and offices of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and the head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. A spokesman for Marshall, Alabama’s top law enforcement official, declined comment. The change follows a meeting in which protest spokesman Iva Williams said officials in the city of Hoover agreed to consider several requests made by demonstrators, including the addition of a citizens review board and a diversity officer. Protest leader Carlos Chaverst Jr. said demonstrations were being halted temporarily in the city “in expectation the city of Hoover will do the things they told us they would do” City officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. An officer fatally shot Bradford after hearing gunfire at Hoover’s Riverchase Galleria mall. Bradford had a gun and the officer shot after seeing it, but Bradford wasn’t responsible for a shooting that wounded two people, authorities said. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
