It seems the cops flipped the script in the case of Stephen Perkins, the Black man who was fatally shot by Alabama police during a towing dispute. The department initially claimed Perkins refused to obey orders but the police chief found the responding officer was the one in the wrong.
Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion announced the internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins was complete. Upon reviewing the findings, Pinion wrote he found reason to believe the department policies were violated.
“Under our merit system rules, a chief of police cannot issue discipline beyond written reprimands and it is my professional opinion that such discipline is warranted. The Mayor will conduct a review and make a final determination if discipline is warranted and to what extent,” read the chief’s statement.
Pinion said the officer involved in the shooting is on paid administrative leave and the other two officers who arrived on the scene are still on duty. These three arrived to Perkins’ home the night of Sept. 29 responding to the call of a tow truck driver who claimed Perkins pulled a gun on him while trying to repossess his vehicle, per ABC’s report.
In surveillance camera footage from a neighbor’s home, the tow truck arrived at the home and Perkins walked out with a firearm and flashlight. The initial department statement claimed Perkins saw the responding officer and refused to lower his firearm. However, the video shows the officer crept up from behind Perkins’ home and fired over ten shots in barely a second of ordering Perkins to drop his firearm.
Even after Perkins was lying unconscious on his lawn, the towing company took his vehicle.
Pinion said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is still conducting a separate criminal investigation to determine whether the officers involved deserve criminal charges. Mayor Tab Bowling said the discipline recommendations and administrative charges will be specified Wednesday, per AL.com.