WAVE 3 News - Louisville, KentuckyConstable indicted for shooting accused shoplifter

Constable indicted for shooting accused shoplifter

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The Jefferson County constable who shot a woman accused of shoplifting has been indicted by a grand jury. The indictment against David Whitlock was returned Thursday on charges of assault and wanton endangerment.

Whitlock is accused of shooting Tammy Ortiz on Nov. 2 outside a Walmart store in Pleasure Ridge Park. Whitlock said he was off duty and shopping in the store himself when an employee asked him to help stop a suspected shoplifter.

Brian Butler, Whitlock's attorney, said, "Anytime you are charged with a criminal offense and you just get notified, you've been charged with two felonies, it's a difficult thing to deal with," said Butler. "He's dealing with it anyway he can, but I mean it's hard on him. It's hard on his family."

According to Whitlock, he fired after confronting Ortiz and she ran over his foot with her vehicle.

Whitlock will be arraigned on Feb. 6.

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