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Ex-Flint police chief fatally shot man who apparently tried to rob poker room, owner says
by Jared Field | The Flint Journal
Wednesday July 01, 2009, 6:11 PM
See complete story in Thursday's Flint Journal
BURTON, Michigan -- Former Flint Police Chief Bradford Barksdale fatally shot a masked gunman who shot his way into a locked poker room early Wednesday in an apparent robbery attempt, the business' co-owner said.
Barksdale was among those playing poker at about 1 a.m. when the suspect broke into the Palace Poker Room on East Bristol Road near Fenton Road, according to Al Crossnoe, who owns the business with son Adam. Barksdale's involvement was confirmed by numerous other sources.
Barksdale, who stepped down as chief in 2004, is a regular at the poker room, Al Crossnoe said. The Journal could not reach Barksdale for comment.
The masked suspect -- who has not been identified -- blew open a locked door with a shotgun and descended on a crowd of people playing poker about an hour before closing time at the business, Burton police said.
Authorities have said one retired Flint police officer and one off-duty officer were among the 40-50 people ordered to the floor as the suspect waved his gun.
Burton police said one of the officers then pulled out a gun and fatally shot the suspect. It's unclear how many shots were fired.
Crossnoe believes Barksdale made the right decision based on the circumstances.
"The guy's dead, and that's unfortunate," said Crossnoe, who was in the hall at the time of the shooting. "He may just have saved someone's life."
The police report on the shooting will go to the Genesee County prosecutor's office to determine if it was justified.
********************UPDATE***************************************
High praise for ex-Flint police chief, Brad Barksdale, after killing shotgun-wielding robbery suspect at Burton poker room
by Jared Field | The Flint Journal
Thursday July 02, 2009, 2:03 PM
File photoBrad Barksdale
FLINT, Michigan -- Like the ex-Flint police chief himself, the people who know Brad Barksdale are shooting straight about their former comrade.
Barksdale is being praised by many for the single bullet in the chest that killed a robbery suspect who shot his way into the Palace Poker Room in Burton early Wednesday morning with a shotgun.
"That guy picked the wrong place to rob," said Keith Speer, veteran cop and president of the Flint Police Officer's Assocation. "He's not going to miss a target he's intending to shoot.
Mlive.com were quick to applaud Barksdale as well.
"(Barksdale) protected all the people in the poker room that had no idea what was about to happen to them," wrote poster vicit. "God only knows how many lives could have been taken by the gunman. Thank you for putting yourself in harm's way for all the patrons of the Palace. You are a HERO to me."
Barksdale left the top police post in Flint as former mayor Don Williamson was poised to take over control of the city from Emergency Financial Manager Ed Kurtz in July 2004.
Scott Kincaid, longtime member of the Flint City Council, said he hated to see Barksdale leave.
"I thought he did an excellent job," Kincaid said. "He always impressed me."
Burton Police are still working to identify the alleged thief
http://tinyurl.com/ng2kju
Ex-Flint police chief fatally shot man who apparently tried to rob poker room, owner says
by Jared Field | The Flint Journal
Wednesday July 01, 2009, 6:11 PM
See complete story in Thursday's Flint Journal
BURTON, Michigan -- Former Flint Police Chief Bradford Barksdale fatally shot a masked gunman who shot his way into a locked poker room early Wednesday in an apparent robbery attempt, the business' co-owner said.
Barksdale was among those playing poker at about 1 a.m. when the suspect broke into the Palace Poker Room on East Bristol Road near Fenton Road, according to Al Crossnoe, who owns the business with son Adam. Barksdale's involvement was confirmed by numerous other sources.
Barksdale, who stepped down as chief in 2004, is a regular at the poker room, Al Crossnoe said. The Journal could not reach Barksdale for comment.
The masked suspect -- who has not been identified -- blew open a locked door with a shotgun and descended on a crowd of people playing poker about an hour before closing time at the business, Burton police said.
Authorities have said one retired Flint police officer and one off-duty officer were among the 40-50 people ordered to the floor as the suspect waved his gun.
Burton police said one of the officers then pulled out a gun and fatally shot the suspect. It's unclear how many shots were fired.
Crossnoe believes Barksdale made the right decision based on the circumstances.
"The guy's dead, and that's unfortunate," said Crossnoe, who was in the hall at the time of the shooting. "He may just have saved someone's life."
The police report on the shooting will go to the Genesee County prosecutor's office to determine if it was justified.
********************UPDATE***************************************
High praise for ex-Flint police chief, Brad Barksdale, after killing shotgun-wielding robbery suspect at Burton poker room
by Jared Field | The Flint Journal
Thursday July 02, 2009, 2:03 PM
FLINT, Michigan -- Like the ex-Flint police chief himself, the people who know Brad Barksdale are shooting straight about their former comrade.
Barksdale is being praised by many for the single bullet in the chest that killed a robbery suspect who shot his way into the Palace Poker Room in Burton early Wednesday morning with a shotgun.
"That guy picked the wrong place to rob," said Keith Speer, veteran cop and president of the Flint Police Officer's Assocation. "He's not going to miss a target he's intending to shoot.
Mlive.com were quick to applaud Barksdale as well.
"(Barksdale) protected all the people in the poker room that had no idea what was about to happen to them," wrote poster vicit. "God only knows how many lives could have been taken by the gunman. Thank you for putting yourself in harm's way for all the patrons of the Palace. You are a HERO to me."
Barksdale left the top police post in Flint as former mayor Don Williamson was poised to take over control of the city from Emergency Financial Manager Ed Kurtz in July 2004.
Scott Kincaid, longtime member of the Flint City Council, said he hated to see Barksdale leave.
"I thought he did an excellent job," Kincaid said. "He always impressed me."
Burton Police are still working to identify the alleged thief
