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April 23, 2008
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N.C. cop dragged by car, shoots suspect
By Victoria Cherrie
The Charlotte Observer, N.C. CHARLOTTE — An arrest warrant Tuesday charges a man with assaulting the police officer who shot him during an encounter on Statesville Road. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said 29-year-old Jason Chappell faces one count of assault with a deadly weapon — his car. The incident happened just before 10 a.m. Monday. Neighbors called police to report a suspicious vehicle in the driveway of a vacant house in the 5100 block of Statesville Road. The police department gave this account on Tuesday: Officers Rodney Jackson and Lucas Rahal approached the car and found Chappell inside. Jackson, 34, was on the passenger side; Rahal, 23, went to the driver's side. Officers saw that Chappell had a knife and told him to put it on the front passenger seat. He did. But as Jackson leaned in to retrieve it, police said Chappell started the car, put it in reverse and then accelerated. Jackson was trapped in the door as the vehicle moved, police said, and the driver ignored the officer's commands to stop the car. Jackson then fired his weapon once, hitting Chappell. The extent of his injuries was not being released. But he was listed in stable condition Tuesday night and will be served with the warrant when he is released, police said. Chappell, who was jailed in January on cocaine possession charges, has several outstanding warrants in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties, police said. Court records show over the past few years he was jailed on charges including breaking and entering, larceny, stealing a vehicle and giving false information to police. A judge in 2006 recommended he be evaluated by mental health professionals, documents show. N.C. law and policies used by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police allow officers to use deadly force if they fear their lives are threatened or they believe force is necessary to end a threat to the life of another person. Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting and will present their findings to the district attorney. Both officers are on administrative leave. Jackson has served in the department for eight years. Rahal, a rookie, joined the department in August of last year, according to police. A separate internal investigation also is being conducted. And a board, composed of police officials and civilians, will determine if the officers followed department policies. Monday's shooting is one of several recent incidents in which officers have used their weapons. In March, Officer Matthew Relic shot a man suspected of robbing a Dollar Tree store on South Boulevard. Also in March, Officer Jerry Dawson shocked a 17-year-old with a stun gun after police said the youth refused to obey commands inside a University City grocery store. Darryl Wayne Turner later died. Copyright 2008 The Charlotte Observer
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