10 hours ago
UPDATE: 2 Prichard police officers on administrative leave following bat incident
UPDATE (6/18 5:55 p.m.): The Mobile County District Attorney's Office has upgraded the charge for Devoris Malone from unlawful imprisonment to first-degree kidnapping.
UPDATE (8:03 p.m.): An investigation is underway after a police officer was caught on camera using a baseball bat to repeatedly strike a man suspected of domestic violence.
A woman in Prichard had her phone out and recorded the whole thing as it happened.
Cell phone video captures Prichard police officer Tvon Campbell hitting a man repeatedly with a baseball bat on Cawthon Street in Prichard Monday evening, as another officer stood guard, with her weapon drawn on the passenger side.
Investigators said the man's wife was in the car against her will.
'Detective Campbell did strike him with the baseball bat to gain compliance for him to surrender,' Lt. Robert Martin with the Prichard Police Department, said. 'And so they can subdue him.'
Minutes earlier police said 41-year-old Devoris Malone ran out of his home after officers arrived for a domestic violence call.
Investigators said Malone then hopped into the passenger seat of his wife's car hitting her in the chest and then forcing her to drive away.
'She was able to stop the car,' Martin said. 'Officers gave chase. They also gave chase initially to get the subject to stop and surrender, but he refused to do so. And that's what led them to the encounter.'
'During this incident, the officer deployed a piece of equipment, a baseball bat that is not authorized or issued by the department instead of the standard issued baton,' Prichard Mayor Jimmie Gardner said.
After the wife escaped the car, the officer is seen striking Malone again, even after he's on the ground.
Malone was booked into Metro Jail just after midnight on charges including domestic violence, resisting arrest, and unlawful imprisonment.
Both officers are now on administrative leave.
WKRG is told charges against Malone could be upgraded to kidnapping.
UPDATE (12 p.m.): Prichard Mayor Jimmie Gardner, along with Prichard Police Department officials, held a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday to discuss an incident that has sparked concern on social media.
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Mayor Gardner said that PPD is investigating the use-of-force policy, as the police officer involved in the incident used a baseball bat that the department does not issue.
He said enforcing the law with a device not issued by the department is against policy.
Both Detective Campbell and the other officer are on administrative leave.
PPD officials said their officers responded to a home on North Cawthon Street just before 5:30 p.m. on June 16 for a report of a domestic dispute.
When the officers arrived, one officer went to the back door, while Detective Campbell reportedly knocked on the front door.
Officials said Campbell heard the other officer issuing commands, which led him to go to the back of the house.
Then, the suspect, now identified as 41-year-old Devoris Jermaine Malone, reportedly ran back through the house to the front and jumped into a vehicle that the victim was in.
Malone then allegedly punched the woman in the chest and hit her in the leg so that she would drive away from the home.
Officials said they drove about a block and a half away from the home before they stopped the vehicle.
Malone then restrained the woman so that she was not able to unlock the vehicle, according to officials.
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The PPD officials claimed that Campbell did not have a police-issued baton with him, leading him to grab the other officer's bat and begin breaking the window.
Campbell then allegedly attempted to use a taser on Malone, but he was still being combative.
The woman was eventually able to unlock the door and escape; however, Malone attempted to barricade himself inside the vehicle, said PPD.
Police soon detained Malone, has learned.
Malone faces several charges, including unlawful imprisonment, third-degree criminal mischief, and third-degree domestic violence.
Officials said they are in talks with the Mobile County District Attorney's Office to get the unlawful imprisonment charge upgraded to first-degree kidnapping.
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PRICHARD, Ala. (WKRG) — The Prichard Police Department is holding a press conference at 11:30 a.m. today in response to a video posted on social media.
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Two PPD officers can be seen in the video, with a city spokesperson saying it has 'raised concerns in the community and online.'
News 5 is sending a crew to the press conference, and we will stream it live, right here on
This story is developing. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available.
Christina J. Harris and Jason Garcia contributed to this article.
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