About this course
Introduction
An Alabama officer, whose dream from childhood was to become a cop, has the dream
shattered when he is knifed to in a death in a jail sally port after a missed patdown. The tragic
events of that day all began at a Dollar General store and a bizarre attempt at robbery by arson.
Veteran officers said they had never seen anything like it. The incidents of that day ended as a
tragic lesson on why you can never be too careful.
The Incident
The Attempted Robbery
Off-duty officer Anthony Black was picking up a few things at the Dollar General when he
noticed the subject, Lawrence Wallace, Jr., acting nervously. While standing in line, Wallace was
pacing back and forth as if in a hurry to do something and Officer Black was suspicious. Once he
heard Wallace ask the clerk to open her cash register his antenna went way up. Wallace
stepped briefly away from the counter and came back with lighter fluid and began pouring it on
the counter and display boxes near him, threatening to light the store on fire if they didn’t give
him the money. Officer Black was not armed at this point so he quickly left the store and went
to his car where he had his Glock 22 .40 caliber. He re-entered the store to confront the robber
who had now started a small fire at the counter and in a chip display.
Officer Black announced who he was and took charge of the situation. Wallace was startled by
Officer Black and put his hands up and repeatedly said “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” He then ran
back into the manager’s office apparently thinking it was an exit. Officer Black followed him,
caught hold of his jacket and they wrestled around for several minutes while store employees
tried putting out the fire. Wallace never tried to harm Officer Black. All his energies were
focused on escape. Finally Officer Black pinned him to the ground and within a few minutes a
tactical team arrived and handcuffed Wallace. It doesn’t appear Wallace was patted down until
the transport officer, Steven Green, did so before taking him to police headquarters for
questioning.
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