Alabama's highest ranking state trooper is calling it quits. Colonel Hugh McCall has announced that he will retire as director of the Department of Public Safety. McCall is the first African-American to head the law enforcement agency where he has served for 34 years. No reason was given and Colonel McCall said his resignation will be effective immediately.
Expungement Law
A new state will go into effect next week that would allow Alabamians who have been arrested, but not convicted of a crime to remove the arrest from their record. The expungement law was approved by the Alabama Legislature earlier this year. However, the law does not apply to individuals who are charged with a felony. The expungement law goes into effect on July 7th.
Civil Lawsuits
Two civil lawsuits have been filed against a Montgomery man charged in a multiple shooting in Auburn two years ago. The families of Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips have filed wrongful death lawsuits against 24-year-old Desmonte Leonard. Leonard awaits trial in September in connection with the June 2012 shooting spree at a party that left three people dead and several others injured. The lawsuits also claim the apartment complex and its management failed to provide proper security.
Firearms Sold Illegally
Federal prosecutors say 10 men accused of illegally selling firearms at a Dothan area flea market have been arrested. U.S. Attorney George Beck said ATF agents started investigating after federal authorities were told that guns were being sold at Sadie's Flea Market. Authorities said the firearms sales date back to at least October 2013. The ten men are charged with selling firearms without licenses, selling firearms to convicted felons, and the sale of a firearm by a convicted felon to another convicted felon.