LIPSCOMB, Ala. — Lipscomb police officer Warren Powe handcuffed and maced fellow officer Henry Bynum, while the Lipscomb mayor looked on, after Bynum was involved in a one-vehicle accident in his police cruiser, according to a bizarre report by al.com.
According to Lipscomb mayor Lance McDade, another driver pulled out in front of Officer Bynum causing him to swerve and wreck. Because the accident involved a city vehicle, Mayor McDade came to the scene, and Officer Powe showed up soon after to take pictures.
The mayor informed Bynum that he thought it was the law that the officer get drug tested, since the accident occurred with city property, and asked Bynum to get in his car so they could go to UAB West for the test. As it turns out, there is no such law in Lipscomb, but the mayor noted that “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
On the way to the hospital Officer Warren Powe pulled over the mayor and Bynum, saying that the mayor couldn’t remove Bynum from the scene. “Jefferson County had already cleared the scene, and I am his boss,” mayor McDade responded.
Hearing an argument developing, Bynum also exited the car. Reportedly, Powe for whatever reason repeatedly asked Bynum if he was wearing his duty belt or carrying any weapons.
When Powe saw that Bynum had his hands in his pockets, “Powe lunged at Bynum and told him he was under arrest and maced him. He got on his back and handcuffed him,” the Mayor said. “It was crazy.”
Powe put Bynum in his car and took him to the Lipscomb police department, where they washed out his eyes. Paramedics were called to transport him to the hospital where he received further care. At the hospital Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies took a report from Bynum.
Neither officer has been placed on leave while the city and county further investigate the incident.
This isn’t the first bit of drama we’ve seen from the Lipscomb PD in recent years. Officer Powe was once fired from the department, only to be rehired later after suing the city for wrongful termination, and mayor McDade was once found guilty of trying to evade a Lipscomb police officer following a traffic stop. The cop who pulled him over? Officer Warren Powe.
In 2013 mayor McDade shut down the police department for no apparent reason, simply saying “This is to inform that the City of Lipscomb has laid off its Police Department and Dispatch and is requesting Sheriff patrol for this weekend.” Lipscomb PD was back at work the following Monday.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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