Post by mustangfan2003 on Oct 18, 2006 12:59:46 GMT -6
well this mess happend yesterday and i was right across the road from it all
FLORENCE -- An apparent road rage incident ended with the shooting of a police officer and a suspect in an alleyway behind Florence Plaza shopping center Tuesday evening.
Florence police Deputy Chief Pete Williford said canine officer Keith Robinson was shot once while he was trying to stop the suspect.
The suspect, identified as James "Jimmy'' Richard Rochester, 47, 300 Lauderdale 111, Killen, was shot multiple times, officials at the scene said.
Both men were taken by ambulance to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital.
Williford said late Tuesday that Robinson was shot in the lower leg and Rochester's wounds did not appear to be life-threatening.
Hospital officials said Robinson and Rochester were listed in good condition.
The incident started just after 7 p.m. when police officers received a call of possible road rage.
Authorities said a woman called police and said a man was following her and had brandished a gun at her while they were traveling west on Florence Boulevard. Department officials said the woman had apparently pulled into a business and called police on her cell phone.
Williford said Robinson, who has been with the department since 1994, spotted the suspect's vehicle and turned around on Florence Boulevard in an attempt to make the stop.
Reports indicate Robinson got behind the vehicle at 7:13 p.m. Seven minutes later, the call came in of the shooting.
"From what we understand, the car didn't stop and pulled into the alleyway with Officer Robinson following,'' Williford said.
The vehicle, an older model beige-colored Ford F-150 truck with a Kentucky license plate, pulled into a parking area between Side Pockets and Mr. Norm's Lounge. The truck was pulled up to the back of the building.
"When (the suspect) stopped, apparently he came out shooting and the officer retaliated,'' Williford said.
Authorities at the scene said it appeared Rochester shot several times at Robinson. At least two bullets struck the officer's patrol car -- one in the top of the windshield and another in the door.
The suspect's weapon, which appeared to be a large caliber semi-automatic pistol, could be seen lying in the parking lot at the scene.
Officials at the scene said it appeared Rochester was struck four times.
Authorities said witnesses at the scene said Rochester appeared to be intoxicated.
Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton, who is on a business trip in Boston, was notified of the shooting. He said he was relieved to learn that Robinson was not injured more seriously.
"It could have been much worse," he said. "We're thankful it wasn't."
He called Robinson an "outstanding officer who acted appropriately and professionally based on everything I've been told" about the incident.
"He responded as he is trained and that might have saved his life," Singleton said.
According to officials with the Garland County, Ark., sheriff's department in Hot Springs, Rochester has a second-degree murder conviction.
Garland sheriff officials said that on Jan. 9, 1992, Rochester pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Arkansas officials said Rochester had originally been charged with first-degree murder and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge. It was not known how long he had been in Lauderdale County,
Singleton said the department, based on policy, asked Alabama Bureau of Investigation agents to investigate the case since it involved a Florence officer.
ABI officers were on the scene late Tuesday conducting the investigation.
"It's one of those situations that every police officer understands they might face one day," Singleton said. "When an officer is involved in something like this, it's something he or she has to live with the remainder of their career and life, even when it's fully justified. Using deadly force is always the last resort for an officer."
Managing Editor Mike Goens contributed to this story.
Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.
ok so this guy has a 2nd degree murder conviction and he hasn't been sitting in a cell somewhere. oh yeah good thing the cop was a good shot too.
FLORENCE -- An apparent road rage incident ended with the shooting of a police officer and a suspect in an alleyway behind Florence Plaza shopping center Tuesday evening.
Florence police Deputy Chief Pete Williford said canine officer Keith Robinson was shot once while he was trying to stop the suspect.
The suspect, identified as James "Jimmy'' Richard Rochester, 47, 300 Lauderdale 111, Killen, was shot multiple times, officials at the scene said.
Both men were taken by ambulance to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital.
Williford said late Tuesday that Robinson was shot in the lower leg and Rochester's wounds did not appear to be life-threatening.
Hospital officials said Robinson and Rochester were listed in good condition.
The incident started just after 7 p.m. when police officers received a call of possible road rage.
Authorities said a woman called police and said a man was following her and had brandished a gun at her while they were traveling west on Florence Boulevard. Department officials said the woman had apparently pulled into a business and called police on her cell phone.
Williford said Robinson, who has been with the department since 1994, spotted the suspect's vehicle and turned around on Florence Boulevard in an attempt to make the stop.
Reports indicate Robinson got behind the vehicle at 7:13 p.m. Seven minutes later, the call came in of the shooting.
"From what we understand, the car didn't stop and pulled into the alleyway with Officer Robinson following,'' Williford said.
The vehicle, an older model beige-colored Ford F-150 truck with a Kentucky license plate, pulled into a parking area between Side Pockets and Mr. Norm's Lounge. The truck was pulled up to the back of the building.
"When (the suspect) stopped, apparently he came out shooting and the officer retaliated,'' Williford said.
Authorities at the scene said it appeared Rochester shot several times at Robinson. At least two bullets struck the officer's patrol car -- one in the top of the windshield and another in the door.
The suspect's weapon, which appeared to be a large caliber semi-automatic pistol, could be seen lying in the parking lot at the scene.
Officials at the scene said it appeared Rochester was struck four times.
Authorities said witnesses at the scene said Rochester appeared to be intoxicated.
Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton, who is on a business trip in Boston, was notified of the shooting. He said he was relieved to learn that Robinson was not injured more seriously.
"It could have been much worse," he said. "We're thankful it wasn't."
He called Robinson an "outstanding officer who acted appropriately and professionally based on everything I've been told" about the incident.
"He responded as he is trained and that might have saved his life," Singleton said.
According to officials with the Garland County, Ark., sheriff's department in Hot Springs, Rochester has a second-degree murder conviction.
Garland sheriff officials said that on Jan. 9, 1992, Rochester pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Arkansas officials said Rochester had originally been charged with first-degree murder and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge. It was not known how long he had been in Lauderdale County,
Singleton said the department, based on policy, asked Alabama Bureau of Investigation agents to investigate the case since it involved a Florence officer.
ABI officers were on the scene late Tuesday conducting the investigation.
"It's one of those situations that every police officer understands they might face one day," Singleton said. "When an officer is involved in something like this, it's something he or she has to live with the remainder of their career and life, even when it's fully justified. Using deadly force is always the last resort for an officer."
Managing Editor Mike Goens contributed to this story.
Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.
ok so this guy has a 2nd degree murder conviction and he hasn't been sitting in a cell somewhere. oh yeah good thing the cop was a good shot too.
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