Carleton Wallace, 30, died in an officer-involved shooting in Alexander.
Press Release by State Police, Sept. 10:
Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division were requested to investigate the death by officials of the Alexander Police Department and Saline County Sheriff's Department.
Alexander Police Officer Nancy Cummings encountered Wallace yesterday (Saturday, September 8th) about 4:30 PM as Wallace was walking along Brookwood Road. Officer Cummings stated she observed Wallace carrying a pistol tucked under the waistband of his pants.
According to Officer Cummings, Wallace threw the gun into a wooded area next to the road.
While searching Wallace for other weapons and attempting to arrest him, Officer Cummings's service weapon she had been holding discharged.
Wallace was transported to Saline Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The body of Wallace and evidence collected from the scene has been submitted to the State Crime Laboratory for examination and analysis.
State Police and local authorities have kept Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady apprised of the incident and on-going investigation. A complete investigative case file will be presented to Prosecutor Casday for his consideration.
Questions relating to Officer Cummings administrative status should be directed to the Alexander Police Department.
ALEXANDER, Ark. (KTHV) - Details unravel in the alleged accidental shooting that happened Saturday in Alexander.
Police say a woman was riding along with Officer Nancy Cummings the day she says she accidentally shot Carleton Wallace, 30. In a press release following the incident, Arkansas State Police did not mention a witness being present.
In the incident report, Cummings says Wallace pointed the gun at her before throwing it into the woods; however, in the ASP press release, authorities say Cummings stated she observed Wallace carrying a pistol tucked under the waistband of his pants. ASP says that according to Cummings, Wallace threw the gun into a wooded area next to the road. It did not mention that he pointed the gun.
The press release stated that while Cummings was searching Wallace for other weapons and attempting to arrest him, her service weapon discharged. Wallace was later pronounced dead at Saline Memorial Hospital.
In a FOIA request, Today's THV found that a few days prior to the alleged accidental shooting, a different officer stopped Wallace for marijuana. That officer saw that he was carrying a gun then, but he was not arrested at the time.