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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake