A court hearing for former City of Alexander Police Officer Nancy Cummings has been set for 9 AM tomorrow (August 30) in a Saline County Court. She was charged with manslaughter in January by Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady. A jury trial has been set for October 3 and 4.
The manslaughter charge comes from a shooting which occurred in Alexander September 8, 2012. The incident was investigated by the Arkansas State Police.
According to the state police report Cummings encountered Carleton Wallace walking on Brookwood Road around 4:30 PM Saturday, September 8th, 2012. While attempting to arrest Wallace, Cummings’s gun discharged hitting Wallace. He was transported to Saline Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Cummings told State Police she noticed Wallace carrying a pistol tucked
in his pants and that he threw it into the woods when he saw her. When
attempting to arrest him and search him for weapons, Cummings says her service
weapon she had been holding discharged.
Her 28-year old daughter was riding with her in the police vehicle at the time of the shooting.
After the incident Alexander Police Chief Horace Walters said he hired Cummings in January, 2012 and had received no complaints against her. Walters also said she wasn't a certified police officer. Walters added he followed the law when hiring Cummings, although she had not, as yet, gone through the 12 weeks of basic training at the Arkansas Academy of Law Enforcement.
Walters said she had passed the standard mental and physical evaluation. And, he added, she had to ride with an officer and get to know the operations of the agency.
Prior to working at the Alexander Police Department, Cummings worked for the Pulaski County jail from 1997 to 2004 and the Arkansas Department of Correction from 2005 to 2011.
This was such a tradgedy; for both families. What a shame. My prayer is that Nancy will be treated fairly. She is a good person and didn't deserve what happened to her.
ReplyDeleteFor Carlton's family, he didn't deserve what happened to him either; nor did his family. The people actually responsible will never even be mentioned. I didn't know Carlton, but people tell me he was a good person too.
God is in control of all things, even terrible accidents.
If we're lucky her attorney will use the chief and his alleged training tactics as her defense.
ReplyDeleteOPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR
ReplyDeleteWhile this is likely to be misunderstood by many, we need an ordinance regarding monuments on the roadway. The clutter at Carlton’s site is offensive to some, and I can’t imagine it is not to his own family. Celebrating his life is their exercise and is healthy, loving and good. But celebrating the death and the place of it would only keep wounds from healing. If they prefer to do that, that is their business, but public property should be cleared. If someone feels a need to mark the area, it should be on private property.
On the side of the people who have to keep that area, they have to mow around it, it needs to have a drainage pipe installed making the rain run-off drain properly into the canal, and alleviate the flooding there. Water sitting for days during rainy season breeds all kinds of menace. In honor of the living in the area, let’s work on cleaning it up.
I agree the whole ordeal was a tragedy for all. I am glad Ms. Cummings was found "NOT GUILTY".
DeleteIn my opinion Carlton was just another trouble maker, druggie, non-working,
and government supported hoodlum that is gone. At least we don't have to support him and any future kids with our tax dollars.
Now maybe the Alexander Police Dept. will not be afraid to do something about the 3 or 4 drug houses an Mt. Drive where he "STAYED" with one of his girlfriends. They need to do something about the Browns and the places on either side of him. Jeremy Brown is making drugs in s shed behind where he lives. Ms. Diane Black-Cochran hangs out there along with her grandaughter who has a small baby. The baby needs to be placed in a home where she can be raised with a better life.
"COME ON CHIEF WALTERS DO YOUR JOB"
Bill
She should have never had her weapon out while performing this search. I suggest you research and talk to the residents who witnessed this- who said he was ordered to drop his weapon and did. He was shot in the back. Weapon discharged my @$$. I believe she panicked and fired in panic. I don't believe it was intentional. However, I do believe she should have been removed from the PD.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever commit a crime, I want her attorney.