April 22, 2008

CMPD Homicide detectives have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Jason Chappell for Assault With A Deadly Weapon on a Law Enforcement Officer. The warrant will be served when Mr. Chappell is released from the hospital. He is currently listed in stable condition.

On-duty officers responded to a call for service at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2008 regarding a suspicious occupied vehicle in the driveway of the residence at 5124 Statesville Road.  Officers Rodney Jackson (34, hired date 5-17-2000) and Lucas Rahal (23, 8/6/2007) approached the vehicle and found the subject, later identified as Jason Earnest Chappell (WM, DOB 3-19-1979), inside.  Officer Jackson was on the passenger side of the vehicle and Officer Rahal went around to the driver's side. Officer Jackson opened the passenger door to retrieve the closed, folded knife Mr. Chappell placed on the seat when officers told him to do so. When Officer Jackson was leaning in to retrieve the knife, Mr. Chappell started the vehicle, put the car in reverse and immediately accelerated. Officer Jackson was trapped in between the door and the vehicle while the vehicle was in motion. Mr. Chappell failed to obey officer's commands to stop and Officer Jackson fired his service weapon once, striking Mr. Chappell. Medic treated and transported Mr. Chappell to the hospital. Neither officer required treatment.

In addition to the warrant issued for his arrest in this case, Mr. Chappell currently has four outstanding Orders for Arrest in Mecklenburg County and numerous warrants from Cabarrus County. 

As is standard procedure with officer-involved shootings, Officers Jackson and Rahal have been placed on paid administrative leave. Also consistent with standard procedure, Homicide detectives are conducting the criminal investigation and will present the results to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney. Internal Affairs is conducting a separate, parallel internal investigation. A Shooting Review Board, made up the officer's chain of command, Internal Affairs and an outside civilian participant from the Community Relations Committee, will review all available evidence and interview appropriate witnesses to determine whether all departmental policies were followed.