Pubdate: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 Source: Ledger-Enquirer (GA) Copyright: 2004 Ledger-Enquirer Contact: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/enquirer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/237 Author: Ralph Johnson MUSCOGEE COUNTY SHERIFF RALPH JOHNSON'S STATEMENT ON THE KENNETH B. WALKER SHOOTING I would like to thank everyone for being here today. It's been a little more than a month since the tragic incident that took the life of Kenneth Walker. During this period, the Sheriff's office has been faced with a dilemma between the desire to disclose the facts, as we know them, and the conflicting desire not to do anything that would interfere with the investigation being conducted by the GBI. I have decided to make public the facts in this case that my office has developed. I have disclosed the facts that I share today with the GBI. Before we begin, I believe it is important to review the investigative process itself. Immediately after the incident, our Internal Affairs unit began an investigation of the circumstances leading to the death of Kenneth Walker, which continued until it was suspended mid-day Friday. On Friday, December 12, I decided to contact the GBI for an independent investigation. At that point, our internal investigation was suspended and our investigative file became a part of the GBI's separate investigation. No one in my office is part of the GBI's investigative team. Therefore, the information I'm releasing today only reflects the results of our internal investigation before it was suspended. On 12-10-03 the Metro Narcotics Task Force was conducting a narcotics investigation at 5000 Armour Road, apartment 3-G (North Woods Apartments). Based on an informant's phone call to 5000 Armour Road, apartment 3-G on 12-10-03 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Michael Powell was stopped immediately after leaving this location with 63.7 grams of crack cocaine and was arrested by a Metro Narcotics Task Force Team. Powell was charged with Trafficking in Cocaine. The street value of this seized cocaine is $6,370. Approximately 8 p.m., four members of the Muscogee County Special Response Team were called out off duty to meet with Metro Agents in order to serve a residential search warrant at apartment 3-G in North Woods Apartments. This apartment was in the control of individuals by the names of Darrell Jackson and Thomas Randall. The reason a special response team was requested was due to the fact that the information provided by the informant alleged that these subjects inside the apartment were armed. Also, the preceding arrest of Powell leaving this apartment with a large amount of cocaine substantiated this request. A search warrant was subsequently obtained for this residence. While waiting for the search warrant for this residence to be approved, this apartment was under constant surveillance by the Metro Narcotics Task Force. During this short time period the Yukon arrived at this apartment complex occupied by four individuals. One of these individuals being Kenneth Walker who was later identified as being the right rear passenger. The Yukon was identified by the informant at this point as being or matching the description of a Yukon that was driven by an unknown individual from Miami, Florida, that supplied Darrell Jackson of apartment 3-G with cocaine. The informant stated that the individuals in this vehicle would be armed. The Yukon stayed a few minutes, left, was under surveillance to a location and then the same vehicle returned back to the apartment location where the left rear passenger exited the Yukon and met with Darrell Jackson outside the residence. The passenger from the Yukon was carrying a packaged wrapped in plastic into the apartment and it was said by the informant that he looked like one of the Miami dealers. Several minutes went by and then the remaining occupants of the Yukon went inside the apartment that was under investigation. Approximately fifteen minutes later, all individuals from the Yukon exited the apartment and got back into the vehicle. The Special Response Team members on standby for the service of this residential search warrant were called and requested to assist with the stop of this Yukon occupied by four individuals and that the subjects may be armed. The Yukon was stopped on I-185 south of Manchester Expressway over the Edgewood underpass by two marked sheriff's patrol units. As the occupants of the Yukon were being removed from the vehicle, Kenneth Walker was shot by Deputy David Glisson at approximately 8:58 p.m. The weapon involved in this shooting is a MP-5 9mm tactical sub machine gun that is only used and issued to special tactically trained deputies. It is known for certain that Mr. Walker was shot in the forehead once. It is an investigative conclusion at this point in the investigation that the MP-5 discharged twice from an automatic setting. This resulted in the death of Kenneth Walker who died at the Medical Center on December 11, 2003 at 2:25 a.m. This is the official date and time of death recorded by the Muscogee County coroner. Deputy Glisson was placed on administrative leave immediately after the shooting. His law enforcement activities were also suspended pending this investigation. This is an issue of policy and due process. Deputy Glisson has been employed with the Sheriff's office for 20 years. He has been a special response team member for five years and is currently assigned to the felony apprehension unit. Deputy Glisson has never been involved in a shooting in his career. My reluctance to release the name was a result of some actions taken by unknown persons against Sheriff's personnel and property after this shooting that consisted of verbal assaults, property damage and graffiti. I simply did not wish for anyone else to get hurt. After the shooting incident, at approximately 10:50 p.m., the search warrant was approved and served at the apartment in question. Approximately 3 grams of crack cocaine ($300) street value, 24 grams of powder cocaine ($2,400) in street value, and a Talon 9mm handgun were recovered. Darrell Jackson and Thomas Randall were arrested inside this apartment and were charged by the Metro Narcotics Task Force with possession of cocaine w/intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The reason that Mr. Walker was shot still remains under investigation. I am told that the three individuals in the Yukon and Deputy Glisson have all retained legal counsel and are not prepared to make statements at this time to the GBI. No criminal charges against Mr. Walker or the other three occupants were made in regards to this investigation. Upon the completion of this investigation, I assure the citizens of Muscogee County that I will take appropriate action in this matter. This was not a racially profiled random traffic stop. The Sheriff's office has not had a shooting incident in over 10 years, and has not had a shooting related death in over 20 years. The Walker family has been contacted and a copy of this release will be provided to them. I am going to try to be patient for this investigation to be brought to some form of conclusion by the GBI before I resume my own administrative investigation. As a life long citizen of Muscogee County, and in my 22 years of law enforcement, I have never experienced such a tragedy as this. Aside from my position as Sheriff, I love and care for all people. As your Sheriff, and a citizen of this community, I will do everything possible to reach out in order to help heal, nurture and restore tranquility within the community. In conclusion, I can assure you that nothing in this investigation has been covered up. Everything has been, and will be exposed to the GBI and FBI. To only call this incident a tragedy would be an understatement. To say that all of us in law enforcement are shocked, saddened, and extremely regretful, cannot adequately express our feelings. I am determined to do everything that I can to prevent this from happening again. The Sheriff's office operates under the motto "We Care" and that commitment extends to all people of the community. I am determined to demonstrate the truth of that statement by our actions. This media release can be viewed in its entirety on the Government Access Channel. I would like to thank you all once again for being here today. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom