Benton
Member
Anyone know the pistol involved here? I would guess it has a polymer frame and an ultra modern safe trigger such as found on some Austrian pistols and their Massachusetts imitators. However, I may wrong. Clearly, mishandling of the firearm is the culprit here.
By BOB ANDERSON
[email protected]
Florida parishes bureau
WALKER -- A plainclothes officer accidentally wounded himself as law-enforcement officers surrounded a bank Monday morning.
A bank official called police to report that a man about whom the bank had received an alert from federal authorities was inside.
Walker police and Livingston Parish sheriff's deputies surrounded Hibernia Bank with plans to detain the man as he left, Police Chief Elton Burns said.
"We didn't want to storm into the bank," said Burns, who said police believed the man wanted by federal authorities might be armed.
Joseph Welda entered the bank to protect the employees "in case something went down bad inside the bank," Burns said.
Welda, instructed to hide his badge and weapon, put his 9 mm pistol into his pants pocket, Burns said.
Once inside, Welda said the man in question looked at him suspiciously, Burns said.
Welda reached into his pocket to make sure his pistol was accessible, and the gun went off, striking Welda just below the knee, the police chief said.
At that point, Welda handcuffed the man, thinking there was a federal warrant for the man's arrest, Burns said.
The man, who was unarmed, quickly said he hadn't fired the shot and only put up minor resistance, Burns said.
A bank employee, on the phone with police, reported the shot, and Burns said he ordered officers into the building.
Welda received stitches for the flesh wound, which was several inches long, before being released from a hospital, authorities said.
An inspector from the U.S. Postal Service, which had sent out the alert asking that the man be held for questioning, came to the scene, but said the Postal Service had no warrant or evidence to hold the man, Burns said.
Authorities said they subsequently released the man, whom they didn't identify because he was not booked on any charges.
By BOB ANDERSON
[email protected]
Florida parishes bureau
WALKER -- A plainclothes officer accidentally wounded himself as law-enforcement officers surrounded a bank Monday morning.
A bank official called police to report that a man about whom the bank had received an alert from federal authorities was inside.
Walker police and Livingston Parish sheriff's deputies surrounded Hibernia Bank with plans to detain the man as he left, Police Chief Elton Burns said.
"We didn't want to storm into the bank," said Burns, who said police believed the man wanted by federal authorities might be armed.
Joseph Welda entered the bank to protect the employees "in case something went down bad inside the bank," Burns said.
Welda, instructed to hide his badge and weapon, put his 9 mm pistol into his pants pocket, Burns said.
Once inside, Welda said the man in question looked at him suspiciously, Burns said.
Welda reached into his pocket to make sure his pistol was accessible, and the gun went off, striking Welda just below the knee, the police chief said.
At that point, Welda handcuffed the man, thinking there was a federal warrant for the man's arrest, Burns said.
The man, who was unarmed, quickly said he hadn't fired the shot and only put up minor resistance, Burns said.
A bank employee, on the phone with police, reported the shot, and Burns said he ordered officers into the building.
Welda received stitches for the flesh wound, which was several inches long, before being released from a hospital, authorities said.
An inspector from the U.S. Postal Service, which had sent out the alert asking that the man be held for questioning, came to the scene, but said the Postal Service had no warrant or evidence to hold the man, Burns said.
Authorities said they subsequently released the man, whom they didn't identify because he was not booked on any charges.
