‘Unfortunate incident’: Muscle Shoals Police officers involved in shooting cleared to return to work

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. ( WHNT ) — The Muscle Shoals Police officers involved in a deadly shooting Monday have been cleared to return to work, the City of Muscle Shoals attorney confirmed to News 19.

According to ALEA, at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Muscle Shoals Police Department responded to a call in the 300 block of Tuxedo Avenue West in Muscle Shoals.

The City of Muscle Shoals released a statement regarding the officers’ return to work:

The three officers involved in this incident have over 35 years of combined law enforcement experience and training. In accordance with MSPD policy, all three officers were placed on administrative leave pending an internal review. After reviewing all essential body-camera footage, documents, and statements, MSPD concluded that all three officers complied with applicable standards, policies, and procedures and cleared them to return to work. An independent investigation is currently being conducted by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

This is an unfortunate incident that has taken a toll on MSPD officers, the man’s family, and the community. MSPD exists to serve and protect the citizens of Muscle Shoals. However, it is also imperative that MSPD officers protect themselves and each other from imminent threats of serious bodily harm or death when performing their law enforcement duties. In this tragic situation, it is clear that MSPD officers acted appropriately under tense and rapidly evolving circumstances consistent with their training.

City of Muscle Shoals Statement

The agency said that once officers arrived they found a man, identified as 68-year-old Ronald Parrish of Muscle Shoals, with a knife. ALEA said officers gave repeated verbal commands to drop the knife but the man lunged toward officers.

According to the statement from the City of Muscle Shoals, body camera footage shows officers told Parrish to drop the knife approximately 102 times.

“During these de-escalation efforts, Officers 2 and 3 had their tasers drawn to a low-ready position while standing away from the man at the safest distance the space allowed. Officer 1 retreated to a location behind Officer 3 with his department-issued firearm drawn to a ready-gun position to provide cover for Officers 2 and 3 if necessary. At this point, the man concealed himself from Officers 1 and 3 behind an open refrigerator door. Officer 2 maintained a direct line of sight with the man while communicating with him,” the statement said.

The city said that during negotiations with Parrish, who they add was still holding the knife, he threatened Officer 2, saying “I’ll throw this right through your heart.” Muscle Shoals officials said Officer 2 then continued to calmly ask the man to drop the knife so he could get him help.

“After approximately 8 minutes and numerous commands to drop the knife, the man, without provocation, stepped away from the refrigerator and charged Officer 3 with the knife raised in a stabbing motion. Officer 3 deployed his taser at the man making contact with the front of his body. Officer 2 deployed his taser as well making contact with the back of the man’s body. The man fought through both taser deployments and continued to charge at Officer 3. In an attempt to stop the imminent threat of bodily harm or death to Officer 3, Officer 1 discharged his firearm at the man causing him to fall to the ground,” the city said.

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ALEA said officers engaged and shot Parrish. He was transported to Helen Keller Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Huntsville Attorney Tyler Mann, who is representing the Parrish family, told News 19 that the incident stemmed from a mental health call.

“While we respect law enforcement and the job that they do, MSPD nor ALEA have responded to my requests to view the body cam footage of this tragic encounter. ALEA’s statement is premature under the circumstances. According to witnesses, Mr. Parrish was tased at least once. This leads to questions about the use of deadly force and the department’s training in response to mental illness calls, including, but not limited to, dementia. On behalf of the family, I would request all information regarding this incident be made transparent before judgment is passed in the public. My sincerest condolences reside with the family at this time as they grieve the loss of a husband, father, and well known member of the Muscle Shoals community.”Attorney Tyler Mann

Tyler Mann

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