Birmingham Police Arrest Man Suspected of Killing Police Sergeant
The man suspected of killing Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter last month was arrested Thursday as he was released from rehab.
Jeremy Owens, 31, had been in medical facilities since Jan. 13. He was wounded the same night police say he shot and killed Sgt. Carter. Officer Lucas Allums was also shot in the incident. He and Sgt. Carter were investigating vehicle burglaries near a downtown club when they encountered Owens and another man, police say.
Owens was charged with capital murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith announced the arrest at the North Precinct, standing beneath a sign that reads: “Rule #1. Everyone goes home.”
Smith said officers placed Sgt. Carter’s handcuffs on Owens to take him in.
“I only thought that it was fitting, that if this man was going to jail, we’re going to use Sgt. Carter’s handcuffs,” Smith said.
Carter was 44. He had served at the Birmingham Police Department since 2011. In addition to his work as a sergeant in the North Precinct, he worked previously as an officer in the West Precinct and as a school resource officer.
Later Thursday, police arrested 18-year-old Michael Todd in connection with the incident. Todd was charged with receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Smith applauded the investigation by Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr and his staff. He said Carr assembled all of the pieces to ensure a thorough investigation.
Alabama district attorney says ‘justice demands’ new trial for death row inmate
Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr filed a brief expressing his support for Toforest Johnson’s bid to receive a new trial. Carr has supported a new trial since 2020, but the latest filing detailed the findings of a post-conviction review of the case.
After decisive loss at Alabama Mercedes plants, powerful auto union vows to return and win
Newly elected UAW President Shawn Fain said the union will return to Mercedes and will press on with efforts to organize about 150,000 workers at more than a dozen auto factories across the nation.
Gulf South states among U.S. leaders for juvenile life without parole sentences, study shows
A youth sentencing study shows Alabama and Mississippi are among just four states that top the nation in new juvenile life without parole sentences since 2012.
Workers at Alabama’s Mercedes plants vote against joining a union
The workers voted 56% against the union, according to tallies released by the National Labor Relations Board, which ran the election.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
