BRPD officer injured while responding to domestic dispute thanks community for support in statement

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - An officer was shot while responding to a domestic call on Geranium Street Monday night in Baton Rouge.

On Aug. 9, the Baton Rouge Police Department posted a statement from Sgt. Ralph Walker, the officer who was shot.

"Let me first say, I am truly touched and humbled by the outpouring of support, prayers, and the kind words that everyone has spoken about me in the last few days. The words of encouragement are a fuel to the motivation that makes me want to put my uniform back on and stand next to my friends and co-workers.

We are family..............

On Monday, two of my family members were faced wth the same threat as I. When the bullets began to fly, Cpl. Heather Anderson and Cpl. Kent Hagge were right there by my side. We were doing our job in attempt to help someone who needed help. Although they were not physically injured they are still heroes, who with teamwork from many of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, brought the situation to a peaceful resolution. I would also like to say how grateful I am for Ofc. Wesley Holton. Despite being assigned to the desk, he responded to our call for help, saw my condition, and helped me to safety. He then returned to the threat until it was resolved.

Each of you who responded to the call for help are heroes! I am down but not out. I look forward to my return and will continue to pray for you as you face the challenges of the job each day," Sgt. Ralph Walker said in a statement.

The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) says shots were fired at an apartment complex in the 900 block of Geranium Street near Aster Street several blocks north of Tiger Stadium around 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5 while officers were responding to a domestic call. A BRPD officer, Sgt. Ralph Walker, was shot in the leg and transported to a local hospital for treatment, police say. Sources later told WAFB Walker is expected to recover.

Sgt. Walker is a 22-year veteran on the force and is no stranger to the Baton Rouge limelight.

In a Facebook post from March 3, 2015, BRPD praised Sgt. Walker officer for his heroics and quick thinking. Sgt. Walker ran into a burning home and pulled an elderly woman out, saving her life. The comments from the community were just as moving; many said they weren’t surprised Sgt. Walker put his life on the line.

A spokesperson with BRPD says two people are being detained in connection to the case, one of which they believe is the shooter. He was identified as Clifton Eames, 24.

Eames was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on three counts of attempted first degree murder of a police officer and illegal use of a weapon.

Police say officers responded to a domestic call involving Eames and female when Eames reportedly began shooting at officers, striking Sgt. Walker in the leg. Walker was able to call for assistance and EMS personnel arrived on scene. Walker was able to walk and get into an EMS vehicle to be transported to a local hospital, police say.

BRPD spokesperson L’Jean McKneely says officers did not fire their weapons while taking Eames into custody after he attempted to flee the scene. McKneely also says the woman involved in the domestic incident was not hurt.

“[They] exercised restraint, ability to not engage in any type of shooting incident,” McKneely said.

McKneely goes on to say domestic calls can be very dangerous for responding officers.

BRPD is still investigating the case.

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome released a statement Monday night after the incident.

"Tonight, a Baton Rouge Police Officer was shot in the line of duty while responding to a domestic incident on Geranium Street off Nicolson Drive. I’ve gone to the hospital where the officer was taken and met with him and his family. Please keep them in prayer as he begins his journey of recovery.

The scene where he was shot is now secure and a suspect has been detained."

A witness who was at a nearby business says she saw police arrive and later saw two officers carrying another officer bleeding from the leg.

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