Two Priceville police officers on leave pending investigation of shooting

Jan. 27—PRICEVILLE — Along with the chief, an unidentified Priceville police officer is on administrative leave with pay, according to the mayor, while the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency completes an investigation into a Monday shooting that left one man dead and the chief injured.

Scanner traffic from the time of the shooting indicated suspect Bradley James Ellison, 48, of Priceville was shot in the leg. He was pronounced dead about an hour later at Decatur Morgan Hospital, according to authorities.

Priceville Police Chief Rick Williams was wounded by a gunshot, and police radio transmissions after the incident said he received an injury to his head. He was treated and released from the hospital.

"Placing officers on administrative leave with pay when a shooting is involved is standard procedure," Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin said. "The (State Bureau of Investigation, a division of ALEA) is handling the investigation. Any more information will have to come from them."

With the chief and the other officer out, the Priceville Police Department is left with eight officers. Sgt. Jason Wilbanks is handling Williams' duties.

Police radio transmissions indicate a "suspicious person call" came in from the Cove Creek subdivision at 2:14 p.m. Monday. The caller initially reported a white male with a white sweater and gray pants. Later, a police radio transmission described Ellison as having a white T-shirt, black shorts and toboggan hat.

Terrance Bowie, who lives on Emory Drive two houses south of Ellison's house, on Tuesday said he called 911 shortly after 2 p.m. Monday to report that a man, who turned out to be Ellison, had lain down in Bowie's backyard and was unresponsive when Bowie called out to him. At the request of police, he said he called again to report the man had walked away, toward Ellison's backyard.

Bowie said he heard shots fired about five to 10 minutes after police arrived.

At 2:28 p.m., the radio dispatcher was recorded saying "officer down, officer down."

The female voice said there was a white male wearing a toboggan sitting down by a tree with a "rifle or shotgun in his hands."

Two minutes later, "subject down" was transmitted over the radio. The radio report said a white male had stumbled into the complainant's yard and shots were fired. "Possible police officer down with a wound to the head. Officer has been shot but has been talking to us."

At 2:32 p.m., a radio broadcast says, "Shooter is down."

Five minutes later, a male made a radio transmission saying "white male with a leg injury is unresponsive."

Morgan County sheriff's spokesman Mike Swafford said Ellison was shot "outside on/near his property." Ellison owned a house at 170 Emory Drive.

Morgan County Coroner Jeff Chunn said Ellison was pronounced dead at the hospital at 3:30 p.m. He said Ellison was in a backyard when shot.

Brandon Bailey, an ALEA spokesman for Morgan County, said he would not comment on the incident since it remains under investigation. He said state headquarters would release details when the investigation has finished, but he had no idea of when that might be.

A post on Williams' Facebook page Monday evening said, "I'm good y'all. Couple minor surgeries on the agenda."

Hartselle Heritage Funeral Home is assisting Ellison's family and as of Wednesday afternoon no funeral was planned. Born in Indiana in 1973, Ellison is survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, father, sister, three grandchildren and two nephews.

— mike.wetzel@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442. Twitter @DD_Wetzel.