By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore Police Department investigators were still at midweek trying to determine the origin of a Friday, February 28, “shots fired” report that sent officers to a Canoe mobile home park and led to the eventual arrest of five people, none of whom are charged with a weapons offense.
Police reportedly responded to the tiny community, off U.S. 31 North, around 12:30 p.m. Several individuals there reported they had been shot at, but no evidence was recovered to substantiate those claims.
“Our investigators are still trying to find out about the shots, why the caller said that there were shots fired,” APD Chief Chuck Brooks said this week. “We haven’t been able to come up with anything yet to confirm that.”
According to a press release issued late Friday afternoon by Brooks, a juvenile gave a wrong name to officers during questioning and was subsequently arrested for that offense. While in police custody, the juvenile also received a charge of third-degree criminal mischief for damaging the rear window of a police vehicle.
When the child’s mother began arguing with a nearby neighbor, officers instructed her to stop and come to their location, but the woman refused and became “extremely belligerent” with them, the release said.
She was arrested and charged with one count each of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Several individuals reportedly then became involved in an altercation with one of the officers, and the officer called for backup.
Brooks, other APD officers and at least two officers from Poarch Creek Indians Police Department — one of whom was conducting a traffic stop when the call for backup came in — sped to the scene, and control was quickly established. Reports from a witness were that police formed a cordon between the angry individuals and the two officers conducting the initial investigation.
Three other males who were part of the crowd were arrested when officers determined that they were each the subject of at least one outstanding warrant.
Police have not released the names of any of those arrested.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with any information that could help police clear up the matter is encouraged to contact APD at 251-368-9141.