Little Rock police are investigating after a man accused a patrol officer of shooting him during an encounter outside his home early Sunday.
Alexander Davis, 32, said a police officer fired at him outside his residence at 4404 W. 29th St. and one of the shots grazed his left knee, according to a police report. Officers Jordan White and Steven Montgomery were reportedly called to the area about 3:27 a.m. and found Davis and Davis' brother, Jeff Davis, intoxicated in the street.
The officers told the brothers to go home, and one of them replied, "Watch what happens when we gone ride on all y'all," the report states.
Alexander Davis then reportedly ran into his backyard. White told investigators he gave chase and encountered a "medium-sized beige dog advancing aggressively and barking." White, 25, said he fired three shots at the animal.
The dog was not injured, according to the report. Davis showed up at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary about 5:14 p.m. Sunday, police reported.
"Alexander Davis said that as he began walking towards his house he noticed one of the Little Rock police officers start shooting and that one of the shots grazed his left knee," officer Dennis Swinford wrote in a separate police report. "According to Alexander Davis, he was told that the Little Rock police officer was shooting at a dog but believes the police officer was shooting at him."
Police said Davis later refused to speak to investigators at the hospital and asked for an attorney.
Details of what occurred between the time of the gunfire and when Davis arrived at the hospital 14 hours later weren't available.
In a news release Monday, police spokesman officer Richard Hilgeman said the department hadn't determined whether Davis was injured by the gunfire. Hilgeman said police had no further comment on the case.
White, who joined the Police Department in August 2013, was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, in accordance with department policy.
No charges had been filed late Monday.
According to the department's use of force policy, officers may use deadly force, such as gunfire, to "protect themselves or others from what they reasonably believe to be an immediate threat of death or physical injury." The policy states that deadly force is a "last resort."
Police have no restrictions for using deadly force against animals.
Metro on 05/24/2016