PARAGON
09-30-2005, 11:09 AM
I am a member of another forum that has many MS LEOs as members and the brother-in-law of one of them was killed in the line of duty. A Waynesboro patrolman was fatally shot in the face after a traffic stop, becoming the state's third officer killed this year in the line of duty, an official said Thursday.
Jamie Walker, a two-year officer, was killed around 11:25 p.m. Wednesday after pulling over a Ford van reported stolen earlier that night from a local bar, Mayor Joe Taylor said.
The driver, James Elmer Hartley, 32, of State Line is charged with grand larceny and capital murder. Hartley is being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail, a jailer said.
Walker, 32, is the first Waynesboro police officer killed in the department's history, Taylor said.
"Everybody is down, and everybody is exhausted," Taylor said, referring to the city's 20 police officers. "They don't know which way to go right now."
Walker's father, James Walker, said he is stunned.
"He was doing something and helping other people and somebody that shouldn't have been out on the street caused all this," he said Thursday afternoon. "I don't have any feelings one way or the other toward (Hartley). We always felt like it could happen, but you think it would be somebody else."
Taylor said the van Hartley was driving was reported stolen from the Red Carpet bar. He would not name the owner of the van, which was unlocked.
About 20 minutes later, Jamie Walker spotted the vehicle and stopped Hartley on U.S. 45 South. Walker called for back up and approached the vehicle. Lt. Randy Pettus was headed to assist him, Taylor said.
"Before (Hartley) rolled the window down, he shot Walker in the face through the glass with a shotgun," Taylor said. "Backup was turning onto the street and saw him lying on the ground."
Hartley abandoned the van and headed to the home of an acquaintance on Britton Drive, which is about a mile away, Taylor said.
About three hours later, Hartley was arrested at the home, Taylor said.
While Taylor would not say what led to Hartley's arrest, he said, "It's a small town, and the police know everyone. We had a hunch that's where he would be."
Hartley's motive in the shooting is unknown, Taylor said. Hartley has prior arrests that include burglary.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is investigating the shooting, Taylor said.
Waynesboro Police Chief Jerry Mosley did not return phone calls.
James Walker said his son, the oldest of three siblings, was a single parent of two daughters, ages 2 and 7. A full-time police officer, his son always tried to find time for family, his father said.
"He'd drop by our house every day going to his house," James Walker said. "We'd see him passing by, and if he had time, he'd stop and talk."
The two girls are with family members, James Walker said.
His son attended Wayne County High School and enjoyed fishing and hunting, Jame Walker said. His son had friends on the police force before he decided to become an officer.
"It seemed like he was always interested in it," James Walker said.
The other two officers killed in the line of duty this year were Jackson police officer Thomas Catchings on March 17 and Crystal Springs officer Timothy Webster on Aug. 13.
Catchings died in a gun battle with carjacking suspect Omar Hampton, who also was killed.
Webster died following a traffic stop. He was shot once in a struggle with his accused killer, Christopher Bridges, who ran from a car that Webster and his partner, Greg Smith, had pulled over for careless driving.
Bridges, 19, of the Millertown area outside Hazlehurst, is charged with capital murder in Webster's death.
Bridges' mother, Bobbie Bridges, and his aunt and uncle, Doretha and Matthew Nelson, each has been charged with accessory after the fact. All are being held on $100,000 bond at the Copiah County Detention Center.
Jamie Walker, a two-year officer, was killed around 11:25 p.m. Wednesday after pulling over a Ford van reported stolen earlier that night from a local bar, Mayor Joe Taylor said.
The driver, James Elmer Hartley, 32, of State Line is charged with grand larceny and capital murder. Hartley is being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail, a jailer said.
Walker, 32, is the first Waynesboro police officer killed in the department's history, Taylor said.
"Everybody is down, and everybody is exhausted," Taylor said, referring to the city's 20 police officers. "They don't know which way to go right now."
Walker's father, James Walker, said he is stunned.
"He was doing something and helping other people and somebody that shouldn't have been out on the street caused all this," he said Thursday afternoon. "I don't have any feelings one way or the other toward (Hartley). We always felt like it could happen, but you think it would be somebody else."
Taylor said the van Hartley was driving was reported stolen from the Red Carpet bar. He would not name the owner of the van, which was unlocked.
About 20 minutes later, Jamie Walker spotted the vehicle and stopped Hartley on U.S. 45 South. Walker called for back up and approached the vehicle. Lt. Randy Pettus was headed to assist him, Taylor said.
"Before (Hartley) rolled the window down, he shot Walker in the face through the glass with a shotgun," Taylor said. "Backup was turning onto the street and saw him lying on the ground."
Hartley abandoned the van and headed to the home of an acquaintance on Britton Drive, which is about a mile away, Taylor said.
About three hours later, Hartley was arrested at the home, Taylor said.
While Taylor would not say what led to Hartley's arrest, he said, "It's a small town, and the police know everyone. We had a hunch that's where he would be."
Hartley's motive in the shooting is unknown, Taylor said. Hartley has prior arrests that include burglary.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is investigating the shooting, Taylor said.
Waynesboro Police Chief Jerry Mosley did not return phone calls.
James Walker said his son, the oldest of three siblings, was a single parent of two daughters, ages 2 and 7. A full-time police officer, his son always tried to find time for family, his father said.
"He'd drop by our house every day going to his house," James Walker said. "We'd see him passing by, and if he had time, he'd stop and talk."
The two girls are with family members, James Walker said.
His son attended Wayne County High School and enjoyed fishing and hunting, Jame Walker said. His son had friends on the police force before he decided to become an officer.
"It seemed like he was always interested in it," James Walker said.
The other two officers killed in the line of duty this year were Jackson police officer Thomas Catchings on March 17 and Crystal Springs officer Timothy Webster on Aug. 13.
Catchings died in a gun battle with carjacking suspect Omar Hampton, who also was killed.
Webster died following a traffic stop. He was shot once in a struggle with his accused killer, Christopher Bridges, who ran from a car that Webster and his partner, Greg Smith, had pulled over for careless driving.
Bridges, 19, of the Millertown area outside Hazlehurst, is charged with capital murder in Webster's death.
Bridges' mother, Bobbie Bridges, and his aunt and uncle, Doretha and Matthew Nelson, each has been charged with accessory after the fact. All are being held on $100,000 bond at the Copiah County Detention Center.