Published: July 16, 2008 05:15 pm            

Shots fired at deputy

Suspect apprehended; no injuries reported

A Hatch Bend resident has been taken into custody after allegedly shooting at a sheriff’s deputy and another local resident.

On July 1 at about 11 p.m., Lafayette County Sheriff’s Deputy W.R. Cranford responded to a complaint of someone being shot at by Virgil Walker, 71, of 558 SE Badger Road, according to a press release posted on the LCSO Website.

When Cranford arrived at the residence he activated the blue lights on his patrol vehicle and called out to Walker, over the PA, to exit the residence, say reports. Cranford saw Walker standing at a window at the front of the residence. After several attempts by Cranford to call for Walker to exit the residence, Walker stepped out the front door onto the porch. Cranford asked Walker to step into the front yard to speak with him. Walker, whom authorities say appeared to be intoxicated, reportedly responded by shouting obscenities and stating that he was going nowhere.

At that point Walker raised his right hand, in which he was holding a small caliber pistol, and fired at Cranford, say authorities. While moving to cover, Cranford ordered Walker to drop his firearm. Walker refused and walked back into the residence and closed the door. Cranford then advised dispatch that shots had been fired. Deputy C. Land arrived on scene followed by Sheriff Carson McCall, Lt. L. Hempstead, Sgt. S. Hamlin, and Investigator G. Condy. Deputy Cranford advised that Walker had barricaded himself inside the residence and was armed. Sgt. Hamlin then attempted to talk Walker out of the residence. At approximately 2:00 a.m. Walker walked out onto the porch and began yelling at the deputies to leave. Sheriff McCall observed that Walker was no longer armed with the handgun and Investigator Condy immediately apprehended Walker and with assistance from the other deputies restrained Walker without further incident. Walker was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and transported to the Lafayette County Detention Center.

McCall praised his fellow officers for bringing Walker into custody in a manner that resulted in no one getting hurt.

“God was with us that night. We are thankful that nobody was killed,” he said.

Walker was released on Thursday, July 3, on a $20,000 bond, said McCall.

        

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