Prichard Police Under Scrutiny After Officer Uses Unauthorized Weapon in Arrest

Prichard, AL (BuzzReport) – A Prichard Police Department officer is under investigation after deploying a non-regulation baseball bat during the arrest of a domestic violence suspect, prompting a swift response from city officials. Mayor Jimmie Gardner addressed the incident at a press conference Tuesday morning, emphasizing the city’s commitment to accountability and adherence to departmental policy.

The incident unfolded on June 16th, when officers were dispatched to a residence on North Cawthon Street following a report of a domestic dispute. According to PPD officials, upon arrival, officers encountered a chaotic scene. Suspect Devoris Jermaine Malone, 41, allegedly fled to the front of the house, jumped into a vehicle occupied by the victim, and physically assaulted her, striking her in the chest and leg in an attempt to force her to drive.

The victim drove approximately a block and a half before stopping. Malone then allegedly restrained her, preventing her from unlocking the vehicle. At this point, Officer Campbell, one of the responding officers, reportedly did not have his department-issued baton and instead seized a baseball bat, believed to belong to the other officer, to break the vehicle window. After the window broke, Campbell then attempted to use a taser on Malone during the struggle to affect the arreset.

The victim eventually managed to escape, but Malone barricaded himself inside the vehicle before being taken into custody by police.

Malone is currently facing charges of unlawful imprisonment, third-degree criminal mischief, and third-degree domestic violence. PPD officials indicated they are working with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office to potentially upgrade the unlawful imprisonment charge to first-degree kidnapping, reflecting the severity of the allegations.

The controversy surrounding the incident centers on Officer Campbell’s use of the baseball bat. Mayor Gardner confirmed that the use of non-department-issued weapons is a direct violation of PPD policy, triggering an internal investigation into the department’s use-of-force guidelines.

“We take this matter very seriously,” Mayor Gardner stated. “It is imperative that our officers adhere to established protocols to ensure the safety of both the public and themselves. The use of unauthorized weapons is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Both Officer Campbell and the other officer present during the incident have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation. The PPD is expected to release further details as the investigation progresses, underscoring the city’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the wake of this concerning incident.