LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – We are learning more about an off-duty Jefferson County constable who shot a suspected shoplifter Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of a Pleasure Ridge Park Walmart.
When reached by phone, David Whitlock was not ready to go on camera to talk about what exactly unfolded. Whitlock did say he is out of the hospital, his foot is bruised with hairline fracture, and he is on crutches.
It all started at the Walmart in the 7100 block of Raggard Road on Wednesday afternoon. Louisville Metro Police said an employee alerted Whitlock, who was at the store doing personal shopping and was off duty, of a possible shoplifter. Whitlock told police he followed a woman named Tammy Ortiz into the parking lot to confront her as she was driving away. Police say Ortiz drove over Whitlock's foot and he drew his weapon and shot her in the arm and hand.
"As a peace officer, even states in our job description, if we see something happening we have the duty to act," said Christopher Williams, a Meade County constable and chaplain for the Kentucky Constable Association.
We asked Williams if Whitlock's force was justified.
'If a vehicle was coming after me, I would have shot," said Williams. "She turned a simple shoplifting charge into a felony when she decided to turn her car into a weapon."
Louisville Metro Police say Ortiz is not being charged in the incident and their Public Integrity Unit is investigating. The Kentucky Constable Association said they are also conducting their own investigation.
When we stopped by the Kentucky Constable Association office, there was a note from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office posted Wednesday reading they would like to meet with Whitlock regarding some legal process concerning him.
"A loose cannon, I always thought something would happen," said Whitlock's former co-worker, who wanted to remain anonymous.
The man, who didn't want to reveal his identity, worked with Whitlock as a deputy several years ago. He said he isn't surprised about the shooting.
"Anytime we made traffic stop he would hop out with their guns drawn every traffic stop and it got to the point where enough is enough," said the man.
Constables are elected under the Kentucky state constitution, which gives them some arrest powers. Whitlock has been a constable for seven years and has been criticized in the past for using his arrest powers without adequate training.
Whitlock told WAVE 3 that he is going to file charges against Ortiz.
Ortiz's attorney says they will be making a statement Friday morning. He said Ortiz, who is out of the hospital and was hurt badly, is outraged over this incident.
Whitlock said the last time he was hired by Walmart doing security was last Christmas.
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David Whitlock
Meade County Constable Christopher Williams
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