'He's got my gun': TPD body-cam video shows struggle before officer was shot in hand

The Tallahassee Police Department released body-camere video footage of a violent encounter with a trespassing suspect that left an officer shot and injured by his own gun.

TPD posted a nearly eight-minute video – including edited, narrated and raw footage – that it said captured the events that led to a fight between the officer, whose name was not released, and the suspect, Willis Adams. It happened March 8 outside the Loyalty Inn on North Monroe Street, where Adams had been staying but was ordered to leave after threatening staff.

Adams left the hotel amid repeated warnings that he would be arrested if he came back. When he returned, he refused to comply with police commands. The officer used his Taser and baton to try to subdue him but Adams continues to resist, raising a can and striking the officer twice, according to TPD spokesperson Alicia Hill, who narrated the video.

The body camera footage shows officers outside the motel with Adams as they tell him he needs to remove all of his things from the room he is staying in. Officers warned him that if he didn’t leave he would go to jail for trespassing.

Adams was later seen on the phone with 911 while the officer tried to get him to leave the premises.

“Go ahead and put your hands on me,” Adams said as he threatened to beat the officer.

The officer pointed his Taser at Adams telling him to get on the ground, according to the body cam footage. Adams inched closer and the officer tased him, but instead of stunning him, Adams lunged at the officer and started throwing punches.

“I will hurt you,” Adams growled at the officer.

Adams wrestled on the ground with the officer before grabbing his gun from his belt

“Sir I’m not going to rob him," Adams said to a bystander who walked up to the scene. "He’s trying to shoot me."

Seconds later the gun went off.

“Dispatch, he’s got my gun! He’s got my gun," the officer cried out. "I’m shot."

The officer was taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and later released. Police have said he was expected to recover. TPD did not immediately respond to questions about how the officer is doing or whether he's returned to duty.

Adams was arrested shortly after the shooting on a charge of attempted homicide. He is being held in the Leon County Detention Facility.

"Public safety is a shared responsibility, and incidents like this highlight the critical importance of voluntary compliance with law enforcement orders," TPD Chief Lawrence Revell said in a statement. "Our officers put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our community, and individuals must cooperate with their directives to ensure everyone's safety."

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee police body camera shows struggle before officer was shot