AR Officer Shoots Asst. Fire Chief

A major investigation is underway after a police officer allegedly shot an assistant fire chief and a fellow police officer inside a courtroom Thursday night.

It happened around 8 pm in Jericho, Arkansas, that's about 11 miles north of West Memphis, Arkansas.

Crimescene tape still surrounds Jericho city hall. Even though investigators say it can re-open, it hasn't.

Thursday night, with a full-house, investigators say a judge dismissed a month's worth of traffic tickets written by Jericho police.

40-year old Don Payne, the father of a teenager who had a ticket dismissed and the assistant volunteer fire chief allegedly started arguing with police.

Investigators say even though Payne was unarmed one of the police officers pulled out his weapon and fired, hitting Payne in the back and a fellow officer in the finger.

The courtroom was full.

Tommy Martin with the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office says, "there was a judge, city attorney, several officers. I think we're very lucky no one else got hurt."

Jericho is a town of about 150 people. It sits off a gravel road, near a railroad track and residents say cops prey on drivers.

Resident Isaac Anderson says, "if you're ever coming through here any other time of the week the police gonna stop you over for 3 things, saying you have no tail light, not tag light or dim lights on the back of your car."

Another resident, Stephanie Brown says, "these police out there so bad the speed limit is 45 you do 45 they still stop you."

Robert Williams says, "they're not serving the community they ain't doing nothing for the community at all."

The Crittenden County Sheriff's Office says the Jericho Police Department's been under investigation for weeks for allegedly writing tickets outside their jurisdiction and for things that are not crimes.

Martin says, "they write a large amount of traffic tickets, that's one question that arose is are they trying to use this as a funding source of their city."

We could night find the police chief; in fact, we were in Jericho for about an hour and a half today and did not see one police officer.

The mayor would not comment on the case and could not explain why city hall was closed today.

We're told the judge has since quit.

The sheriff's office is not releasing the names of the officers involved in the shooting but say charges could be filed as early as next week.

At last check Payne was in good condition at the MED and the officer who was shot was doing fine.