| September 22, 2006 |
| |
| District Attorney's Office
Clears Deputy in Shooting |
| |
| The District Attorney's
Office for the 25th District has cleared a Burke County deputy of any
wrongdoing in a shooting which seriously injured a Valdese man. |
| |
| Assistant District
Attorney Eric Bellas stated in a recent letter to the SBI, "After careful
review of the SBI investigation in this matter, the district attorney's office
has determined that there in no evidence of criminal misconduct by any officer
involved" in the shooting. |
| |
 |
Gaither Antonio Connelly
(left), 47, of 2650 Farmland Acres, Morganton was
shot twice by Deputy Dylan Anderson on January 24, 2006, after reportedly
pointing a handgun toward Anderson and Officer Derrick Gates of the Drexel
Police Department.
The officers had responded to the Connelly home to
answer a domestic disturbance call between Connelly and his wife. According to
reports, Connelly worked as a prison guard at the Caldwell County DOC
unit. |
|
| "It's always unfortunate
when officers are put in the position to use deadly force," Sheriff John T.
McDevitt said after hearing of the District Attorney's Office ruling. Deputy
Anderson and Officer Gates both reacted just as they had been
trained." |
| |
| "Fortunately, the
outcome did not result in a death," said the Sheriff. |
| |
| Anderson was placed on
administrative duties until the SBI completed their investigation. He has since
returned to active duty. |
| |
| According to McDevitt,
the officers arrived at the Connelly residence shortly after 2:30 AM on January
24th to find Connelly's wife and daughter outside of the residence. |
| |
| After entering the home,
the officers confronted an irate Connelly in the basement, the Sheriff stated.
As the officers spoke with the man, he allegedly became more combative and the
deputy sprayed him with pepper spray. |
| |
| Connelly produced a
handgun, McDevitt said, and Anderson shot Connelly in the abdominal area and
hip. The officers were unhurt during the confrontation. |
| |
| Connelly reportedly
retreated into another area of the basement and spoke with a Sheriff's Office
dispatcher by telephone, stating he had been shot in the stomach and leg and
would turn himself in. |
| |
| Another deputy entered
the home shortly afterwards and located Connelly. The deputy secured the scene
for emergency medical personnel to enter. |
| |
| Connelly was transported
to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for treatment of his wounds, and
reportedly remained in Charlotte for a few months while he rehabilitated. |
| |
| McDevitt said that
Connelly's handgun was found during a search of the residence by investigators.
The Sheriff stated Connelly attempted to hide the bloody weapon after being
shot. |
| |
| ************************************************************** |
| |
| Other Recent Press
Releases: |
| |
|
|
| |
| To view previous press releases, visit
our archives
file |
