Revisiting Kyle Palmer's Gun v. Taser Incident

Sgt. Kyle Palmer

The recent fatal shooting of a suspect in Oklahoma by a 73 year-old reserve deputy who mistook his gun for a Taser reminded us of the June 2013 Red Bay incident in which Sgt. Kyle Palmer mistakenly drew his gun on a Hurricane Creek Baptist Church deacon (those Baptist deacons being so slick--especially those recovering from surgery). If you missed the details of this melee, here are the basics:

A Gun to the Head

The Taser incident? From another June 2013 blog: A guest editorial in Pen N Sword concerning the incident at Hurricane Creek Baptist Church is extremely interesting. It does portray Red Bay Sgt. Kyle Palmer in a better light than he has previously been presented, but one statement is extremely odd. We're told that Palmer pulled his gun, waved it around, then holstered it before pulling his taser and making a statement.

The editorial relates that Palmer drew his gun thinking it was the taser and then returned it when he realized his mistake--at least that seems to be the official story. Okay...

We recently saw a photo of a police officer in a large northern city who had the scope on his assault rifle mounted backwards. Anything is possible, but even in a stressful situation, pulling a gun instead of a taser seems a stretch.

Red Bay sergeant Kyle Palmer is neither 73 (not that we think that signifies incompetence in any way) nor is he a reserve deputy. As far as we know, the investigation into his actions at the rural church produced not even an official reprimand.

Little has been reported about the incident until now. From the Franklin Free Press:

Update on Palmer/Scott Case

*****

The website for Hibbett Patient Care has been down for some time; however, it appears the beleaguered company has issued a statement: Hibbett Takes Leave of Absence.

*****

A friend has reported to us that the railroad bridge in Spring Park has been repaired; however, she has concerns about some other park features. We'll be publishing some of Mary Carton's photos this week. Mary is one of many concerned about the condition of the park, but all citizens need to make their voices heard.



Shoalanda

Martini's Bar/Sgt. Kyle Palmer Update

Martini's Bar and Lounge on Hatch Boulevard in Sheffield is a rockin' kinda place. The problem seems to be when customers leave Martini's and venture into other neighborhoods. The lounge, located directly across from the service entrance to Shoals Kia, was once home to Down the Hatch and Club High-Class. The latter was called a teen club, but once had its own shooting to boast:

Club High-Class

It seems Martini's has recently been the scene of two fights that spilled over into other towns. While not reported in local news outlets, one of these altercations culminated in a shooting at a Muscle Shoals mini-mart. We'll assume no serious injuries resulted. Last week's shooting on West Mobile Street also sprang from a fight that originated at Martini's. 

Four Shot in Florence

Perhaps it's time for the city of Sheffield to take another look at Martini's license? 

*****

The Red Bay Police office of internal affairs has been taking testimony this week in the hearing of Sgt. Kyle Palmer, the officer accused of excessive violence during a recent investigation outside his jurisdiction. Those who have heard the testimony thus far have commented anonymously that much isn't adding up, at least with Palmer's version of events. We look forward to their final report.

*****

Success? How does one achieve it? Our advice is to keep on truckin'. Yet at least some who seem destined for success in life don't quite make it. We have to ask how someone falls so far...

From Habitat to Heroin

Shoalanda

Doesn't Know a Taser from a Gun?

A guest editorial in Pen N Sword concerning the incident at Hurricane Creek Baptist Church is extremely interesting. It does portray Red Bay Sgt. Kyle Palmer in a better light than he has previously been presented, but one statement is extremely odd. We're told that Palmer pulled his gun, waved it around, then holstered it before pulling his taser and making a statement.

The editorial relates that Palmer drew his gun thinking it was the taser and then returned it when he realized his mistake--at least that seems to be the official story. Okay...

We recently saw a photo of a police officer in a large northern city who had the scope on his assault rifle mounted backwards. Anything is possible, but even in a stressful situation, pulling a gun instead of a taser seems a stretch.

Drop the Matter

*****

We incorrectly listed the new trial date for Kimberly Bynum George as August 17th, a Saturday. The correct date is August 19th, if it's not postponed an eighth time.

*****

We've had a lot of feedback concerning yesterday's blog on the pink splotch defacing the photograph of a local man. Many of the comments we couldn't publish due to their language and many didn't wish to comment publicly. It seems that some felt the mysterious splotch was a pink shadow surrounded by a pink halo.

We've never seen anything like this before, but both intuition and common sense tell us that no shadows or halos could be pink. We consulted with some semi-professional photographers who agree. We're certainly still open to comments, but please keep the language suitable for all family members.



Shoalanda

A Foot in the Back & a Gun to the Head...

Obviously rumors are rampant at this point over what really happened on June 2nd at the Hurricane Creek Baptist Church near Vina in Franklin County. Red Bay Police Chief Jana Jackson has issued a public statement, but she's impeded by being able to say only so much concerning an ongoing investigation. Church members have commented publicly, but their accounts have been reported in snips and sometimes the sequence of events has not meshed in all of them.

Was there wrong on both sides? We think Mr. Steve Scott, a church deacon, would have fared much better if he had not asked Red Bay Sgt. Kyle Palmer a second question. Does that mean Mr. Scott deserved the physical abuse he took from Palmer? Remember, the good sergeant was working with a group of rural Baptists, not the Hell's Angels. A kind word from him would have gone far. Instead, Palmer chose to show these radical anarchists just who was in charge on church property. Nothing like drawing a gun to show who's boss.

Is this a rare instance of abuse of police authority in Franklin County? If you've read our blog for a while, you may remember our mention of another Franklin County event that we've been asked not to blog about in order to protect the jobs of innocent victims. We have no wish to delve deeply into this and hurt the innocent, but perhaps we can offer our readers a snippet of what happened in the city of Russellville a few years ago.

There was a place where people lived, worked, and gathered...and one sold dope. Did any of the others know? We're told they didn't. We do know most didn't have a clue as to any illegal activity. A woman exited her vehicle, saw the glint of a gun, and was told to hit the ground. When her knees and weight made the act of hitting the ground too slow a go for the officer, he placed his foot in her back, pushed her to the ground, placed a gun to her head, and told her if she wanted to see her family again she would do as he said. The woman had a large family, many of them sick, many of them young. She did what the officer said. Later she had to visit a hospital with her injuries. Her attorney, a local all-purpose country barrister, advised her to "forget it."

Again we ask if these events are rare? We somehow doubt it. Should you report an officer if he's rude? We wouldn't--maybe he was just having a bad day. Should you report an officer if he's physically abusive when no one deserved such treatment? If you don't, his next victim could wind up in the cemetery where he will have no earthly voice.

No, we don't think the members of the Hurricane Creek Baptist Church were wrong to complain. Let's hope it does some good.



Shoalanda

Red Bay Ruckus & the ABI

Bay Tree Park: Does Red Bay Have New Claim To Fame?

Yesterday the Red Bay officer involved in the alleged civil rights violations of members of the Hurricane Creek Baptist Church was named in the press for the first time. Here's some interesting info on Sergeant Kyle Palmer and his victims.

Red Bay Officer ID'd

We've mentioned before that the Alabama Bureau of Investigation will not enter a case on the request of a private citizen alone. Red Bay Police Chief Jana Jackson has stated she called the ABI on the night of the June 2nd incident and was told it was not something in which the agency was authorized to get involved. Why?

Was the ABI fully apprised of the situation? Will they become involved now that four formal complaints against Sgt. Palmer have been filed? Will they wait until the church deacon files a law suit against the Red Bay force?

Conducting only an internal investigation is not avoiding the appearance of evil. If the Red Bay Police feel they are on firm ground, perhaps they should consider that the daughter-in-law of the injured deacon Steve Scott is an attorney. We have to ask the citizens of Red Bay if they are comfortable with their tax dollars being used to defend a lawsuit...or possibly being paid out if Mr. Scott and the others involved win the suit?



Shoalanda