SHOTS FIRED

Tuesday, 05/09/06

2 shot as bounty hunter tries capture
TSU police respond to incident at Nashville shopping plaza

By RACHEL STULTS
For The Tennessean

An attempt by a bounty hunter to apprehend a wanted fugitive went awry Monday, leading to a shooting involving Tennessee State University police that left the suspect and another man wounded, Metro police said.

The shooting broke out around lunchtime at Swetts Plaza in Nashville as a bounty hunter and two siblings closed in on fugitive Juan Wilson, who was wanted on charges of domestic and aggravated assaults, probation violation and failure to appear in court, police said.

Wilson, 25, had just left D Nails, a nail salon at the plaza, when he was confronted by bounty hunter Ron Moseley, his brother Stephen Moseley and half-brother Steven Hicks. Wilson exchanged shots with Ron Moseley, Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said.

The gunfire drew the attention of three TSU police officers who were lunching nearby at Best Wok Chinese Restaurant.

"One of the officers yelled for everyone to freeze," Aaron said.

"Ron Moseley turned toward the TSU officer with his gun drawn, and the TSU officer said he fired in self-defense."

The officer who fired at Ron Moseley was Frank White, a field-training officer at TSU.

His gunfire did not injure Ron Moseley, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, Aaron said.

But in the cross-fire, Stephen Moseley was hit in the back by a bullet and Wilson was shot in the arm. It is unclear whose gunfire caused which injuries, Aaron said.

After the gunfire ended, Wilson fled the scene in a car, was picked up by a relative and taken to a hospital. He will be arrested upon his release, Aaron said.

The Moseleys also left the scene and stopped at 31st Avenue and Parthenon Street, where a passer-by called for help. Ron Moseley was picked up by police and Stephen Moseley was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Steven Hicks, who also might have fired shots, left the scene on foot and had not been located Monday afternoon.

Prosecutors will decide whether the Moseley brothers will be charged with a crime.
_________________
Recoveries by L.A.W.
Serving since March 1984
"He escapes who is not pursued..." Sophocles

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Lance Allen Wilkinson
Recoveries by L.A.W.
Serving since 1984
“What is sought is found... what is overlooked escapes” (Oedipus Rex)

Sounds like a cluster-*** to me. I don't care if I'm getting shot at, in a crowded place there is no way in hell you can expect to safely return fire in a shopping plaza. I would have been ducking for cover

Matt Parker
Indiana PI/BEA
agent@ncpionline.com

Several things wrong with this scenario:

1) Did they check in with local LEO's ?

2) Did they have any idea that the fugitive might have been armed ? If so, then why the attempted app in a public place ?

3) If the charges were felonies and in NCIC, why didn't they have LEO back up ? I have never had a problem getting TN Leo assistance when I asked for it.

4) Why didn't they obey the Leo's commands ?

5) If the trackers were legal, then why did they flee the scene ?

I know I wasn't there, and it is always easier to "Monday morning qb" but this whole thing could have been avoided if handled in a more professional manner.

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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

I definately agree. I've also had no problems getting LEO backup when they are entered into NCIC. And I always try to avoid public places when I can.

I will have to wait for more information myself but, the first analogy was right on the mark what a cluster F...

Like you said without knowing the whole situation....but a preliminary defense is why the hell these campus cops fired on someone wearing a vest and I'm assuming had a badge displayed somewhere.

I've dealt with campus cops before and while there are quite a few of them who are actually quality people, there (in my experience) seem to be a lot of em who are only campus cops because they couldn't get hired by a city/county/state PD and/or like hitting on the badge bunnies in the colleges.

I saw ALOT of these guys while I was in the academy which happened to be near Eastern Kentucky Univ. which is known as a party college in KY... first thing that the instructors warned us about were the "campus cops" who were bitter about not being "real officers" and who tried to hassle the "real cops" who were attending the academy.

While I do not agree with the stereotype per se (personally I think the instructors were just continuing it though I am sure they had a reason) that is what was put out. It is sad that most of the ones I have run into matched this descriptions, though I have to say I have encountered a few who seemed genuinely proficient and not just bunny chasers.

In fact, in some states, they do not even attend the same police academy as other city/county/state (in KY state has their own police academy and after they complete that one they go to the DOCJT for additional classes).

It will be interesting to see who shot that BH in the back... probably why they weren't charged yet as there probably are a lot of conflicting witness statements (usually why people aren't charged or arrested immediately, especially for a shooting).

There is a GOOD chance that the one if not all of them got REALLY excited (most people would in a situation like that) and fired BEFORE yelling "freeze" (geez that sounds so cliche LOL... I was thinking and I don't think I EVER yelled that ... lots of "STOP" "GET ON THE GROUND" "DROP THE WEAPON" maybe some expletives thrown in depending on the severity of the situation LOL... but, nope, no "everyone freeze" LOL).

Would explain how one guy got shot in the back and the other one turned with his weapon. With all the shooting going on it would have been hard for witnesses to know who was shooting who and when.

I think everyone is right in that there are ALOT of missing pieces to this puzzle and without more information it would be hard to cast judgement.

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-The Solution-
Indiana Agency #: PI20700211
Indiana Notary Public - Exp: 12/20/13

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath."
- Kingdom of Heaven

I am glad to see the amount of concern for professionalism here. Being new and searching forums I tend to see cowboys in the 21st century, Keep promoting professionalism, and demanding it from those in the profession.

welcome back lance

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/offi ... g-shootout

May 9, 2006, 5:53 pm

"Officials Question Bounty Hunting Following Shootout"
A shootout involving a so called ‘Freelance Bounty Hunter’ and TSU Police Monday has raised new questions about the profession of bounty hunting and your security. Buford Tune is a former Metro Officer and security specialist. He said Monday’s shootout in crowded parking lot between a self proclaimed "bounty hunter", a fugitive and a TSU Police Officer is wrong on many levels. When the dust settled, two men were injured in the gunfire, the TSU Officer was placed on routine administrative leave and many questions surrounded Ronald Moseley, 26, who told police he is a ‘Freelance Bounty Hunter’.

News 2 has...

...learned while Moseley has a hand gun carry permit and is registered with the state as an Armed Security Officer, he was not sanctioned by a bonding company to pick up the wanted felon.

Melton Bonding Company did not want to talk on camera but told News 2 they don't know anyone by the name of Moseley, nor did they hire him to catch the fugitive. Officials with the Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents said they have no record of a man named Moseley taking the mandatory continued education classes.

Nashville's bail bond industry is sanctioned by the criminal court of Davidson County. To be a bail enforcement agent, a person musthave a clean criminal record, have completed the necessary class, and that agent must have a contract with a legitimate bail bond agency to catch a fugitive. Tune said Tennessee is lacking when it comes to bounty hunters. "There's no common sense here. There needs to be some laws governing bounty hunters in Tennessee and right now there is nothing,” said Tune.

News 2 attempted to reach Moseley at the address he left with police but the man who answered said he doesn't live there. The district attorney's office is reviewing the case to see if any charges should be filed. Because of liability issues, criminal court officials saidmost bonding agencies use their own staff to reacquire fugitives.

According to state law, any bondsman who knowingly employs a convicted felon as a bounty hunter is committing a crime. The same goes for a bounty hunter who has a felony record.




Copyright 2006 by WKRN Nashville Tennesse. All Rights Reserved.

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Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club