Police chief arrested for false report

ELBERTA, Alabama (WALA) - UPDATE: Friday, Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack announced that Elberta Police Chief, Mickey Pledger has been arrested for firing into an occupied building, filing a false police report, and tampering with evidence.

Mack says during an interview with Chief Pledger, he admitted that he fired his backup .38 caliber weapon into his office window while an Elberta Police Officer was inside the building. Chief Pledger then admitted that he fired his duty .40 caliber Sig Sauer weapon into the ground and told responding law enforcement officers that he pursued and returned fire at a perpetrator.

Three days after the incident, Chief Pledger called investigators with the sheriff’s office and advise them the he had located a bullet casing across the street from the police station that he believed was the casing of the shot fired in his direction.

During the interview Chief Pledger admitted that he planted the shell casing in order to bolster his previous story.

Pledger was booked into the Baldwin County Correction Center and is being held on a $12,000 bond.

Last April, Chief Pledger claimed somebody tried to kill him when a cinder-block was thrown through his windshield.

Pledger claimed he was patrolling on Highway 98 when the cinder-block was thrown from a passing vehicle.

No arrests were ever made in that case.

2/14/11: Elberta Police Chief, Mickey Pledger was back in the office Monday with a sore shoulder and lots of unanswered questions. This, after he says he exchanged shots with a man outside the Elberta Police Station Sunday night.

According to Pledger, it all started about 8:30 p.m. when he took a break from doing paperwork to go to his squad car and get a file. He said a man wearing a black shirt and hoodie was standing between him and the office when he turned to go back in. Pledger asked if he could offer assistance.

“He gave me a very quick look over his left shoulder. I believe and then it was, for all intents and purposes, a pirouette type of motion with his right hand free that fired the weapon,” Pledger recalled.

After the shot, Pledger said the subject immediately turned and ran. Pledger pursued him to the corner of the building and pulled his weapon.

“I try to take cover in the shrubbery and it’s at that point, being the klutz that I am, I fall into the shrubbery and hit the brick wall trying to maintain my cover position,” Pledger said.

Pledger dislocated his shoulder in the fall but was able to continue his pursuit along with another officer who heard the shot. Having just been shot at, the chief said he didn’t hesitate when he saw the suspect again.

“It’s at that point that I decided to fire my weapon,” added Pledger.

After being shot at, the suspect continued to flee. During the foot chase, the suspect disappeared into a deep culvert in front of the police station. Chief Pledger said, when that happened, he stopped pursuit and waited for backup.

Surrounding jurisdictions all responded and joined in the search. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office taped off the area and began an investigation. The search continued for several hours, using dogs, patrol cars and a helicopter.

Elberta resident, Ryan Andrews witnessed the search.

“Foley Police Department pretty much had every intersection at the park where the Sausage Festival takes place, they had it blocked off with spotlight looking everywhere,” Andrews said.

The search turned up nothing. With the suspect still on the loose, Chief Pledger has told his officers to use extra precautions.

“We don’t know who this guy was,” said Pledger. “We assume he’s after me. Maybe not. Maybe he’s after someone else. Maybe he’s after one of you guys in general. You know, you pay attention.”

The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate. If you have any information that can help solve this case, you’re asked to call the sheriff’s office or your local police.