July

Man arrested after threatening police with weapon

Clanton Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit helped with the arrest of a man who locked himself inside a residence after threatening officers in mid-July.

Police responded to a noise complaint at a residence off Yellowleaf Road on July 13 and asked the man, who was at a relative’s home, to turn down his music, CPD Capt. David Clackley said.

But another complaint was made shortly thereafter, sending officers back to the residence.

This time, the man refused to cooperate.

“He brandished his machete and told them he wasn’t coming out and they weren’t coming in–to get off his property,” Clackley said.

Police couldn’t leave the subject at the residence because it was unclear whether he would pose a threat to anyone else in the home or his neighbors.

After trying to contact the man by phone and loudspeaker, the Emergency Services Unit breached the door of the residence to try to establish communication. The man presented himself, unarmed, so officers took the opportunity to apprehend him.

“We were just going to initiate contact with him at that time, but once we had him in the open, we decided to go ahead and bring him down,” Clackley said.

The man was arrested and charged with menacing, resisting arrest and violating Clanton’s noise ordinance.

Clackley said the situation, which resulted in no injuries and ended about midnight, is a good example of the usefulness of the ESU. Clanton’s and Jemison’s police departments sponsor the unit.

Had the unit not been available, patrol officers would have been forced to make contact with the subject with no protection and no weapons other than their firearms.

Instead, the ESU allows responding officers ballistic vests and shields, and weapons capable of non-deadly force.

“It’s as much for his safety as it is for the officers,” Clackley said.

Irritant gas is a common resource for officers in situations such as July 13, but Clackley said they were hesitant to employ gas at the residence for fear other relatives were home. Also, officers had no reason to believe the man was armed with a gun, though some belonging to another relative were recovered from the residence.

ESU officers can also use a gun that shoots a bean-bag type projectile, good for forcing a subject to comply while not causing lethal injuries.

“A lot of these situations can be resolved without us going into the house with a bunch of unknowns,” Clackley said but added that July 13 night was an exception to the rule. “When he refused to communicate with us, we had no choice but to try to make contact.”

Altercation leaves one man dead, another hospitalized

One man was killed and another was hospitalized following an altercation early July 21 at Trilliam Apartments in Clanton.

The Clanton man died from a gunshot wound, Clanton Police Department Capt. David Clackley said, while another victim suffered from multiple stab wounds and was transported to a hospital. He has since been released from the hospital.

Apparently, the man broke into the apartment of a female acquaintance about 2 a.m. on July 21 and confronted the female and the second man, Clackley said. A fight ensued.

The female was unharmed.

“We’re still piecing everything together,” Clackley said about the ongoing investigation into the isolated incident.

Veteran walks through county as part of journey across country

Military veteran Mac McQuown walked through Chilton County as part of an ambitious quest to visit all 50 state capitals.

McQuown was on his way to Montgomery. He expected to arrive on July 29. The last capital he visited was Atlanta. After he left Alabama, he planned to make his way to Jackson, Miss. and other capitals for about five more years to conclude the journey.

McQuown stayed overnight July 23 at the Thorsby Fire Department, and spent July 24 at Clanton Fire Station No. 2.

For most of the first part of his journey, McQuown stayed overnight at various fire departments. He also had families take him into their home for a night, or pay for him a hotel room.

McQuown, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Army reservist, began his journey in Virginia, his home state, on Sept. 11, 2011.

“When 9/11 happened, the thing I began to notice was our veterans coming home from conflict were being quickly forgotten,” McQuown said. “As a veteran, it didn’t sit well with me.”

So, he set out to bring awareness to veterans’ issues.

McQuown had logged 2,285 miles as of the beginning of the day July 23. He had visited the state capitals of Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

Once he reaches a capital, McQuown walks to the top of the stairs leading to the capitol building, stands and salutes for 5 minutes.

“That’s me honoring everyone who has served,” he said.

Then, McQuown kneels and prays for 5 minutes.

“That’s my paying tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

McQuown encouraged anyone interested in walking the final steps to the Alabama capitol building to meet him at the intersection of Perry Street and Dexter Avenue at about 12:30 p.m. on July 29.

With the majority of his 15,000-plus-mile trip still remaining, the veteran said he had already been through five pairs of shoes and lost 50 pounds.

“I love what I’m doing,” McQuown said.