Finally on the same page: Mobile District Attorney and Prichard Police
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The Mobile District Attorney, Prichard Police Chief and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office have agreed that they are finally on the same page when it comes to working together.
In a private meeting Wednesday afternoon, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood and Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight talked for about an hour and a half to discuss their differences.
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“I think the meeting went very well and that there will be a lot more communication and cooperation between the two offices,” Knight said.
The original dispute sparked at the beginning of April when Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch called out Prichard Police for not doing their job. Burch said the police department did not respond quickly enough to capture a suspect of robbing the T&J Food Mart in Eight Mile and shooting the owner five times.
The crime occurred on April 2 and Prichard Police named 30-year-old Rashad Kardelle Norwood as a person of interest on April 3.
On April 4, MCSO announced they were looking for Norwood and arrested him on April 7.
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During that time frame, Prichard officials sent a letter to DA Keith Blackwood. Addressing their concerns on the “apparent disparities” in how the Mobile County District Attorney’s office treats cases involving Prichard Police compared to other municipalities.
Chief Knight claimed that the sheriff’s office would get arrest warrants signed for the same suspects that Prichard Police were trying to obtain.
“It’s clear to me that the Prichard Police Department wants to serve the citizens of Prichard to the best of their ability just like we do,” Blackwood said.
Blackwood and Knight said the root of the problem was the lack of communication between the departments, but now they have worked out that barrier.
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“I think now we are on the same page, and we are going to communicate more effectively and work together for the betterment of the citizens of Prichard and all of the citizens of Mobile County,” Blackwood said.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch was not in the meeting because the sheriff’s office and Prichard Police Department already talked a few weeks ago.
The Mayor of Prichard, Jimmie Gardener, was also not in the meeting. News 5 was told that he was able to attend but decided to leave the conversation to the main people involved to sort out the situation.
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