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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

Capt. Joe Herman of the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation told the Signal that the SBI has been requested by the office of 2nd Judicial Circuit District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer to investigate an officer involved shooting between Hayneville officers and the decedent George Crenshaw.

Acting Hayneville Police Chief G. Lashun Hutson  said  the incident occurred Wednesday night, Nov. 14 at 62 Braxton Drive. And according to information provided by Tesmer, Crenshaw was 55 years of age.

Hutson clarified to the Signal that there was actually one Lowndes County Deputy and one Hayneville Police Officer involved. He said the names of the officers involved would not be released at this time. And he declined to say which officer fired the shot.

Hutson also said it was he who requested the SBI to investigate the matter. And while Tesmer said, “It is my policy to request SBI investigation in officer involved shootings.” She also said, “I think it was a joint decision.”

Herman said the offers were attempting to arrest the decedent on “federal warrants,” And “He came at the officers with a large kitchen knife.”

Herman said “After repeated verbal commands to drop the knife, he would not drop the knife. He kept on approaching the officers.”  And, “One officer shot the decedent.”

Hutson said the incident during which Crenshaw was shot welding a knife at about 9:30 p.m. was actually the second contact between Crenshaw and Hayneville Police, Wednesday.

He said on the first contact, Crenshaw fled out the back door, “And,” Hutson said, “we weren’t trying to serve the warrant. We were called to house because he was in a rage.”

He said on that call, Crenshaw also had a knife and was “sprayed,” use of a non-lethal force.

Hutson also said, “We looked for him for a while, but we were unable to find him.”

Hutson said he had gone home when Hayneville Police was called back a second time and went back to the house “with Lowndes County backup.”

On the second incident, Hutson said when Crenshaw had the knife, “he was tased,” and “one of the officers shot him.” He said Crenshaw was deceased when he arrived.

Hutson said, “If we had been able to take him into custody, yes, we would have served the felony (forgery) warrant we had on him.”

While Hutson said he did not know what the county did with regard to its officer, he said his officer was placed on “administrative leave with pay.”

When asked for a comment, Hutson said, “It’s unfortunate the way it turned out, and I truly regret that. My prayers and sympathy go out to the family. We were interested in apprehending him (Crenshaw), and it just played out like this.”

He said, “My condolences go to the family. Anytime you lose a family member it’s tragic. It hurts, especially like this.”

Herman said the SBI is a neutral agency and once its investigation is done and completed it will be presented to the district attorney for presentation to a Lowndes County grand jury.

He said the SBI will have no further comment.