Fort Deposit officer involved in shooting placed on paid leave

Published 2:33 pm Tuesday, July 2, 2013

An early Monday officer-involved shooting in Fort Deposit is under investigation by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI), and a Fort Deposit police officer is on paid leave pending the investigation.

While details are limited, Sgt. Steve Jarrett said Monday that the ABI is investigating a Fort Deposit Police officer-involved shooting and that the incident occurred after midnight at a residence on Coleman Street. The shooting was non-fatal.

“Once the investigation is complete, the facts of the case will be turned over to the district attorney for review,” Jarrett said.

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District Attorney Charlotte M. Tesmer confirmed the victim of the shooting is Travis Thigpen.

“My understanding is the gunshot went through his arm and through the side of his body,” Tesmer said.

She said she did not know Thigpen’s current condition.

Tesmer also confirmed that the officer involved “had been called out on a domestic dispute.”

Tesmer said she got a call from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department and the ABI was called in because it was an officer-involved shooting.

“The ABI will provide my office with an investigative file, and based on that we will most likely present the case the grand jury and let the grand jury decide whether or not any action should be taken,” Tesmer said.

Fort Deposit Police Chief Brandon Thomas said he could not comment on the case and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office officials said they were not involved in the investigation.

However, both Thomas and Fort Deposit Mayor Fletcher Fountain confirmed that the officer involved is on paid leave pending the investigation.

The Signal contacted Baptist South in Montgomery but could not confirm the condition of the victim.

No further information is available as the investigation is ongoing.