JULY 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 7

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY Off-duty Poteet TX officer killed by drunk driver. Jeffrey Richardson died after he was hit by an drunk driver in Austin while working an extra-job. By Mary Claire Patton AUSTIN, TX — An off-duty Poteet police officer was killed Wednesday June 29th after he was hit by an alleged drunk driver in Austin, according to Austin PD. APD responded to a call just after 2 a.m. in the 11700 block of N Mopac Expressway after someone reported that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian. The area is currently a construction zone and the accident occurred on the service road. Officer Jeffrey Richardson, 35, was working a contract extra-job directing traffic when he was hit. He was taken to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center where he later died, according to the PIO officer from the Austin Police Department. Investigators identified the driver as Lindsay Smith, 26. Police say she stayed at the scene after the accident. According to APD officials, Smith was given a sobriety test at the scene and a warrant was issued for a blood draw. The results of that blood draw weren’t provided by police but APD officials said she was booked into Travis County Jail on intoxication assault charges. Her bond has been set at 0,000. The Poteet police chief issued the following statement: “The Poteet Police Department mourns the tragic loss of Poteet Police Res. Officer Jeffrey Richardson, 35, who was tragically killed this morning while working off-duty in Austin, Texas. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Richardson family. We offer our sincerest condolence for this monumental loss. “When tragedy strikes, faith is what makes things bearable. The Poteet Police Department will continue to be here to lean on during this significant time of need. That’s what the thin blue line signifies. “I want to especially thank Round Rock Police Chief Banks and Austin Police Chief Chacon and their departments for their unbelievable show of love, concern and support. I thank the St. David’s Round Rock Hospital medical staff who attended to Richardson and for the respect Officer Jeffrey Richardson they showed him as they lined the halls and street outside the hospital as the procession drove by with his body. I would also like to thank Sheriff David Soward and all Atascosa County law enforcement agencies for their pledges of support, as well as TMPA and the 100 club. Myself, LT Rodriguez, Officers’ DeLuna, Aragon and Gonzalez, along with other law enforcement agencies escorted Officer Richardson’s body to the Medical Examiner’s office in Georgetown, TX. I was in awe that nearly every driver on the highway ramp stood outside their cars as the procession drove by.” TWO DEPUTIES SHOT IN ALABAMA Bibb County Alabama Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Johnson has died while Deputy Chris Poole was released from an area hospital. BIBB COUNTY, AL — One of two Alabama sheriff’s deputies shot Wednesday June 30th has died, while another was treated and released from an area hospital. The suspect involved in the shooting was arrested earlier in the day after a intense manhunt. Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Johnson, who was an organ donor, was pronounced dead at 3:18 p.m., Sheriff Jody Wade said. He was an organ donor. Gov. Kay Ivey called Johnson a hero, and she said the 7-year veteran of the sheriff’s office was engaged to be married. “Our entire state is praying for his family, his fiancé and fellow law enforcement officers,” Ivey said in a statement. The second deputy who was shot, Chris Poole, was released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. The deputies were shot as they chased a suspected stolen vehicle Wednesday, District Attorney Michael Jackson previously told NBC affiliate WVTM of Birmingham. The suspect in the shooting, Austin Patrick Hall, 26, was taken into custody about 7:30 a.m. Deputy Brad Johnson Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the state law enforcement agency said. The shooting set off an intense manhunt. Hall was apprehended in Brierfield, which is a community in Bibb County, officials said. People throughout the community are still too torn up to speak about the loss of Officer Johnson, but everyone we spoke to said he was a good man and will be sorely missed. TV Station WBRC spoke with two women who work for the Deputy Chris Poole Department of Human Resources in Bibb County, and one of them tells me Officer Johnson brought her comfort during a scary situation. “I’ll never forget him. He will always be in our hearts.” Tracy Eubanks couldn’t fight back the tears as she spoke about Officer Brad Johnson. “He could calm any situation and even when things got really tense, he was still always very professional and very respectful.” 34 The BLUES The BLUES 35