Union Police Officer’s Stolen Gun Used In Shooting
– January 25, 2010
Investigators say a handgun recently stolen from a police officer’s personal vehicle was used in a drive-by shooting.
According to an incident report from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a Union Public Safety Officer named Tommy Hart came to the sheriff’s office on January 18th to report that his duty belt had been stolen from his truck. The duty belt contained a .40-caliber Glock handgun, 32 rounds of ammunition, pepper spray, handcuffs and other official equipment.
On the following day, deputies were called to a shooting at 390 Rogerstown Road in Jonesville. Reports state three teenagers had gone there to fight another teen. After fighting in the yard, the three teens got into a car and drove past the house, firing three shots as a woman and her son stood in the front yard. No one was injured.
Ty Morris, 18, Trey Sinclair, 17, and Christopher “Dee” Gist, 17, turned themselves later that day.
Investigators say on January 21st, while in jail, Morris gave a statement voluntary statement saying that he had fired the shots, and he had stolen the gun he used in the shooting from a red Chevrolet pickup truck parked at Officer Hart’s home. He said he and another teen were walking the neighborhood, looking for cars to break into, when they found the truck was unlocked and then found the officer’s duty belt inside.
The gun and the gun belt were recovered. Morris, Sinclair and Gist are all chared with assault and battery with intent to kill, assault with intent to kill, and various other charges.
Union Public Safety Chief Sam White says he cannot discuss whether or not Hart is being disciplined, citing “personnel matter”, but he says it was clearly wrong of him to leave his weapon in his vehicle. He says he is drafting a policy for his department that will spell out how officers are supposed to secure their guns and ammunition when they are off-duty.
To see Chris Cato’s interview with Chief White, click on the video above.
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