Pubdate: Wed, 14 May 2008
Source: Press-Register (Mobile, AL)
Copyright: 2008 Mobile Register
Contact:  http://www.al.com/mobileregister/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/269
Authors: Katherine Sayre and Robert McClendon, Staff Reporters
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

MCINTOSH POLICE CHIEF'S SON FACES 2ND REVIEW OF ACTIONS

The son of McIntosh's police chief already under investigation for 
beating and Tasering a driver during a traffic stop in March has 
again been placed under review for firing a gun at a motorcycle 
during a police chase Sunday, authorities said.

Officer Blaine Barnett, son of Chief Michael Barnett, fired a single 
shot into the front tire of a motorcycle being chased by police on 
U.S. 43, authorities said.

Capt. Mike Ready, of the McIntosh Police Department, said another 
officer had attempted to stop the motorcycle driven by James Wills, 
38, of Mobile, after the motorcycle was caught speeding at 80 mph at 
about 2:30 p.m.

Wills drove south on U.S. 43 into McIntosh, when he turned around in 
a parking lot and sped north on the highway, reaching speeds of 140 
mph, Ready said.

Officer Blaine Barnett joined the chase, Ready said, and Wills drove 
nearly 5 miles north of the city on U.S. 43 before turning around 
again, driving south on the highway.

Barnett parked his vehicle facing north in the southbound lane, Ready 
said, and he stood beside the car, holding his handgun in an attempt 
to stop the driver.

The motorcycle continued to drive at Barnett, Ready said, and Barnett 
fired his gun as the motorcycle reached within a few feet of him.

Ready said the chase continued nearly six miles, despite the shot to 
the front tire, before stopping. The bike never wrecked and the 
driver was unhurt, Ready said.

Wills was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, 
attempting to elude a police officer, reckless endangerment, and 
violation of laws prohibiting alcohol in Washington County, authorities said.

Chief Michael Barnett said his department will conduct an internal 
review of his son's actions, the results of which will be reviewed by 
an "outside agency."

"I don't think it will be a conflict of interest because we will turn 
it over to an outside agency for review," Barnett said. "We're doing 
our normal procedure. We're going to do it ourselves. We will 
evaluate it, we will make a judgment, and then we will ask an outside 
agency to make a review."

Barnett said his son will be placed on administrative duty "for a 
couple of days" while officials determine which outside agency will 
review the investigation.

"That's not saying he's done anything wrong," Barnett said.

There doesn't appear to be any policy in place in Alabama for 
mandatory review of cases that involve possible police brutality or 
officer-involved shootings, even if family ties could create a 
conflict of interest.

Washington County District Attorney Spencer Walker said he would 
investigate this case only if he had reason to believe Blaine Barnett 
acted illegally or Chief Michael Barnett made a formal request for 
review of the internal investigation.

Martha Earnhardt, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Public Safety 
Department, said the state only investigates such matters upon 
request, either by the police department itself, or a third party 
such as the district attorney's office.

No one in Attorney General Troy King's office was available to talk 
about either of Barnett's incidents or policies concerning internal 
police investigations.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is investigating a March 14 
incident in which Blaine Barnett was captured on video tape Tasering 
a man during a traffic stop, dragging him out of his truck and beating him.

Chief Michael Barnett said the family of the driver, Ronald Reed, 
later filed a complaint with the Police Department. Reed was charged 
with reckless endangerment and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Barnett said his son was placed on administrative leave with pay for 
one week following the March 14 incident.

But Barnett said that his son, at the time of the incident, was 
working for a tri-county task force with law enforcement officers 
from Washington, Choctaw and Clarke counties.

Barnett said his son was hired onto the Police Department on the same 
day as the Tasering, but he did not officially start the job until March 17. 
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