PD shooting was rumor
A rumor that a Ridgeland Police office was shot in the line of duty last week were unfounded and apparently confused with an incident in the Delta, according to RPD.
Ridgeland Police were among those who assisted federal and state law enforcement in the apprehension of a man charged with allegedly shooting a Mississippi Highway Patrolman in Bolivar County last week, RPD said.
The man, Stanley Self Jr., 23, was arrested at an apartment complex in Brandon on Thursday, May 4, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said in a news release.
Self was charged with attempted murder and felon in possession of a firearm.
“Due to this being an ongoing investigation, more charges are anticipated,” The release says.
Lt. Eddie Addison with the Ridgeland Police Department said RPD encountered a known associate and possible accomplice of Self’s at the intersection of Lake Harbour Drive and Old Canton Road on the afternoon of Thursday, May 4. Addison said they detained the person until United State Marshalls could bring Self into custody in Rankin County.
Addison declined to identify the suspect they detained as they have not yet been charged in connection with the case.
Addison said he believes the incident at the intersection of Lake Harbour and Old Canton Road may be related to a rumor that there had been a shooting involving a Ridgeland Police Officer that day. No shots were fired while the person was detained nor during the arrest of Self.
RPD released a statement on the evening of May 4 saying, “No Ridgeland police officers were injured today in the line of duty. There is a post going around about an officer being shot and that is not true.”
Self was wanted for the shooting of Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Ryan Watson, who encountered Self during a traffic stop on U.S. 61 in Mound Bayou on Tuesday, May 2. The trooper was shot in the arm by the subject and received non-life-threatening injuries, according to MDPS.
“We are pleased to report that Trooper Watson’s injuries were not life-threatening,” a MDPS statement released on May 3 reads. “He is out of surgery and on the road to recovery!”
MBI is currently investigating the incident.