MUSCOGEE COUNTY SHERIFF RALPH JOHNSON'S STATEMENT ON THE KENNETH B. WALKER
SHOOTING

I would like to thank everyone for being here today. It's been a little
more than a month since the tragic incident that took the life of Kenneth
Walker. During this period, the Sheriff's office has been faced with a
dilemma between the desire to disclose the facts, as we know them, and the
conflicting desire not to do anything that would interfere with the
investigation being conducted by the GBI. I have decided to make public the
facts in this case that my office has developed. I have disclosed the facts
that I share today with the GBI.

Before we begin, I believe it is important to review the investigative
process itself. Immediately after the incident, our Internal Affairs unit
began an investigation of the circumstances leading to the death of Kenneth
Walker, which continued until it was suspended mid-day Friday. On Friday,
December 12, I decided to contact the GBI for an independent investigation.
At that point, our internal investigation was suspended and our
investigative file became a part of the GBI's separate investigation.

No one in my office is part of the GBI's investigative team. Therefore, the
information I'm releasing today only reflects the results of our internal
investigation before it was suspended.

On 12-10-03 the Metro Narcotics Task Force was conducting a narcotics
investigation at 5000 Armour Road, apartment 3-G (North Woods Apartments).
Based on an informant's phone call to 5000 Armour Road, apartment 3-G on
12-10-03 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Michael Powell was stopped immediately
after leaving this location with 63.7 grams of crack cocaine and was
arrested by a Metro Narcotics Task Force Team. Powell was charged with
Trafficking in Cocaine. The street value of this seized cocaine is $6,370.
Approximately 8 p.m., four members of the Muscogee County Special Response
Team were called out off duty to meet with Metro Agents in order to serve a
residential search warrant at apartment 3-G in North Woods Apartments. This
apartment was in the control of individuals by the names of Darrell Jackson
and Thomas Randall. The reason a special response team was requested was
due to the fact that the information provided by the informant alleged that
these subjects inside the apartment were armed. Also, the preceding arrest
of Powell leaving this apartment with a large amount of cocaine
substantiated this request. A search warrant was subsequently obtained for
this residence.

While waiting for the search warrant for this residence to be approved,
this apartment was under constant surveillance by the Metro Narcotics Task
Force. During this short time period the Yukon arrived at this apartment
complex occupied by four individuals. One of these individuals being
Kenneth Walker who was later identified as being the right rear passenger.
The Yukon was identified by the informant at this point as being or
matching the description of a Yukon that was driven by an unknown
individual from Miami, Florida, that supplied Darrell Jackson of apartment
3-G with cocaine. The informant stated that the individuals in this vehicle
would be armed. The Yukon stayed a few minutes, left, was under
surveillance to a location and then the same vehicle returned back to the
apartment location where the left rear passenger exited the Yukon and met
with Darrell Jackson outside the residence. The passenger from the Yukon
was carrying a packaged wrapped in plastic into the apartment and it was
said by the informant that he looked like one of the Miami dealers. Several
minutes went by and then the remaining occupants of the Yukon went inside
the apartment that was under investigation. Approximately fifteen minutes
later, all individuals from the Yukon exited the apartment and got back
into the vehicle. The Special Response Team members on standby for the
service of this residential search warrant were called and requested to
assist with the stop of this Yukon occupied by four individuals and that
the subjects may be armed. The Yukon was stopped on I-185 south of
Manchester Expressway over the Edgewood underpass by two marked sheriff's
patrol units. As the occupants of the Yukon were being removed from the
vehicle, Kenneth Walker was shot by Deputy David Glisson at approximately
8:58 p.m. The weapon involved in this shooting is a MP-5 9mm tactical sub
machine gun that is only used and issued to special tactically trained
deputies. It is known for certain that Mr. Walker was shot in the forehead
once. It is an investigative conclusion at this point in the investigation
that the MP-5 discharged twice from an automatic setting. This resulted in
the death of Kenneth Walker who died at the Medical Center on December 11,
2003 at 2:25 a.m. This is the official date and time of death recorded by
the Muscogee County coroner.

Deputy Glisson was placed on administrative leave immediately after the
shooting. His law enforcement activities were also suspended pending this
investigation. This is an issue of policy and due process. Deputy Glisson
has been employed with the Sheriff's office for 20 years. He has been a
special response team member for five years and is currently assigned to
the felony apprehension unit. Deputy Glisson has never been involved in a
shooting in his career. My reluctance to release the name was a result of
some actions taken by unknown persons against Sheriff's personnel and
property after this shooting that consisted of verbal assaults, property
damage and graffiti. I simply did not wish for anyone else to get hurt.

After the shooting incident, at approximately 10:50 p.m., the search
warrant was approved and served at the apartment in question. Approximately
3 grams of crack cocaine ($300) street value, 24 grams of powder cocaine
($2,400) in street value, and a Talon 9mm handgun were recovered. Darrell
Jackson and Thomas Randall were arrested inside this apartment and were
charged by the Metro Narcotics Task Force with possession of cocaine
w/intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a
crime.

The reason that Mr. Walker was shot still remains under investigation. I am
told that the three individuals in the Yukon and Deputy Glisson have all
retained legal counsel and are not prepared to make statements at this time
to the GBI. No criminal charges against Mr. Walker or the other three
occupants were made in regards to this investigation.

Upon the completion of this investigation, I assure the citizens of
Muscogee County that I will take appropriate action in this matter. This
was not a racially profiled random traffic stop. The Sheriff's office has
not had a shooting incident in over 10 years, and has not had a shooting
related death in over 20 years.

The Walker family has been contacted and a copy of this release will be
provided to them.

I am going to try to be patient for this investigation to be brought to
some form of conclusion by the GBI before I resume my own administrative
investigation.

As a life long citizen of Muscogee County, and in my 22 years of law
enforcement, I have never experienced such a tragedy as this. Aside from my
position as Sheriff, I love and care for all people. As your Sheriff, and a
citizen of this community, I will do everything possible to reach out in
order to help heal, nurture and restore tranquility within the community.
In conclusion, I can assure you that nothing in this investigation has been
covered up. Everything has been, and will be exposed to the GBI and FBI.

To only call this incident a tragedy would be an understatement. To say
that all of us in law enforcement are shocked, saddened, and extremely
regretful, cannot adequately express our feelings. I am determined to do
everything that I can to prevent this from happening again. The Sheriff's
office operates under the motto "We Care" and that commitment extends to
all people of the community. I am determined to demonstrate the truth of
that statement by our actions. This media release can be viewed in its
entirety on the Government Access Channel. I would like to thank you all
once again for being here today.