Shooting Under Investigation

Lincoln Officer Placed On Paid Administrative Leave

LINCOLN — An officer-related shooting that occurred last week is the first one for the Lincoln Police Department in at least two decades, according to police Chief Russell Morphis.

“This is my 24th year in Lincoln and there’s never been an officerrelated shooting in my 24 years,” Morphis said Monday.

Morphis said Officer Chris Williams is on paid administrative leave after he reportedly shot a person he said was armed with a knife.

The incident is under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff ’s Office, which hopes to conclude the investigation sometime this week, said spokeswoman Kelly Cantrell. Cantrell said the sheriff’s office would forward its report to the prosecuting attor- ney’s office for a final decision on whether to proceed further.

According to a press release issued Feb. 7 by the Lincoln Police Department, Williams responded to a suspicious vehicle call around 11:10 p.m., Feb. 6. Morphis said the vehicle, a mid-size sedan, apparently was parked on a road with its lights off. He did not know if the report about a suspicious vehicle came from a 911 call or a call directly to the Lincoln Police Department.

The vehicle reportedly fled from Williams, nearly striking his patrol car. Williams lost sight of the vehicle but then relocated it in the area a short time later, the press release states. Williams stated that he tried to stop the vehicle but the driver sped off, driving at “extremely high speeds and in a very reckless manner.”

Williams followed the vehicle until the driver lost control on Rheas Community Road behind Lincoln Lake. The release states that the vehicle crashed into a fence and gate. The driver, identified as a teenage boy, got out of the car and Williams got out of his patrol car.

The teen ran east as Williams chased him, ordering him several times to “get on the ground,” according to the news release.

Williams said the suspect turned and he saw a knife in the juvenile’s left hand. Williams fired one shot from his handgun, striking the suspect in the left leg, the news release states.

The boy ran into a wooded area,

where he was later arrested by officers from the Lincoln Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff ’s Office. He was transported by ambulance to the Washington Regional Medical Center and treated for his wound, the release states.

The teen was charged as a juvenile with felony fleeing and aggravated assault.

Morphis said he hopes the sheriff ’s office concludes its investigation as quickly as possible but added, “I want them to do a very sufficient and thorough job.” He pointed out that an investigation is standard policy when an officer is involved in a shooting.

Morphis said Lincoln would conduct its own internal investigation after the sheriff ’s office and prosecuting attorney’s office have completed their work. Williams, who has worked for Lincoln for two years, previously served with the sheriff ’s office.