Officer who shot himself was involved in Turntine case

Probable cause statement names injured officer

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

A probable cause statement filed in Washington County Court indicates the deputy who accidentally shot himself Wednesday during a traffic stop was Jason Louis, the deputy who was cleared in January of the John Lynn Turntine Jr. fatal shooting in September 2006.

Authorities say Louis was putting his service weapon back in his holster after a traffic stop in Mineral Point shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, when it went off and shot him in the right thigh. He was flown by air ambulance to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.

A Cadet man who was in the back seat of the car was arrested. Kyle Cain, 18, was released on a $10,000 bond Thursday after being charged with resisting a lawful stop and creating a substantial risk of serious injury/death. An arraignment is scheduled Tuesday in Washington County Court.

Louis was one of two deputies dispatched on Sept. 3, 2006, to Seminole Lane in Washington County in response to a 911 call that reported Turntine was causing a disturbance and threatening to kill family members or himself. Before the deputies arrived, Turntine fled into a wooded area behind the residence. Louis told investigators he located Turntine in a field behind an adjoining house, confirmed what the man was wearing and then crossed a barbwire fence to make contact with Turntine.

Louis said Turntine was armed with a knife and had made numerous threats to harm himself, the deputy or any other law enforcement officer who attempted to arrest him. Louis attempted to calm Turntine down, but the deputy’s attention was distracted from Turntine for a moment.

According to a press release issued in January, Turntine then approached Louis “in a dangerous and aggressive manner with the knife at which time Deputy Louis stepped back, reacted, and fired a single shot that resulted in near instantaneous death ...”

Family members who were present at the home, however, have disputed many of the statements the deputies made about what happened.

Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Rupp declared the shooting justified in January.

Wednesday’s incident stemmed from a report from Potosi police saying that Cain is a drug suspect who ran from them Sept. 6. This morning, Cain’s grandfather said that is untrue.

“He has never done drugs or sold drugs in his life,” Bill Cain said. “I would know if he was on drugs, because I would see a change in him.”

According to the probable cause filed in Washington County, Lt. Charles LaLumondiere of Washington County Sheriff’s Department noticed Cain driving a gold Chevrolet 1500 extended cab truck on Route E. LaLumondiere turned on his lights and siren and tried to stop Cain. When Cain passed a truck traveling in the same direction right before a crest in the road, LaLumondiere backed off.

Meanwhile, LaLumondiere had notified Louis, who was parked at the intersection of Midwest Road and Route E. Cain passed a car and drove briefly into a ditch before regaining the roadway. When he saw Louis’ patrol car, he hit the brakes, nearly struck the car and headed down Midwest Road to Mineral Point, the probable cause said.

Louis followed, but lost Cain. A witness told him the truck had gone in to the woods behind the Head Start building and Potosi Correctional Center, where the vehicle later was found.

Louis saw a Cadillac Escalade pull out of a driveway on State Street, and pulled it over for a faulty brake light.

When he approached the car Louis noticed the suspect in the back seat. Louis ordered Cain out of the car, but the suspect wouldn’t comply. He pulled his gun and ordered the suspect out again. At that point, LaLumondiere and Cpl. Zach Jacobsen arrived and went to the passenger side of the Escalade. LaLumondiere ordered Cain out of car then pulled him out of the vehicle, and then put him on the ground when Cain did not comply.

As the other deputy joined LaLumondiere and Jacobsen, he started to holster his pistol and it discharged, hitting him in the thigh, according to court documents and Sheriffs reports.

Bill Cain said his son, who likes to drive fast, thought the deputies were after him for squealing his tires during the Sept. 6 incident.

“They were on their way to bring him to turn himself in when they were stopped,” Bill Cain said.

Cain said his wife and niece, who were in the Escalade, said Cain did comply with the officers, but did not lie on the ground fast enough.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or  pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

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