Sarah Okeson

News-Leader

Springfield police say an officer shot a 26-year-old man who was panhandling near a Walmart market and was wanted on outstanding warrants and ran from police.

The man, who is described by family as mentally disabled, has injuries that are reportedly not life-threatening.

The officer, who has been with the Springfield police 11 years, is not being named by police at this point. He is on administrative leave. The shooting happened about noon Friday.

In a release, police say Eric David Butts, of Springfield, suffered a gunshot wound after he ran from the officer on Glenstone Avenue toward Bennett Street. Butts had recently done time behind bars for burglary.

Why he ran is not clear. How many shots were fired is unclear. Whether he had a weapon is unclear.

Police spokeswoman Lisa Cox said Friday afternoon that she did not know the answer to these questions.

Cox said Butts is being treated at Mercy Hospital and in stable condition. Police say he is under police custody.

Tim Dalton of Mountain Grove, the boyfriend of Butts' stepmother, spoke of Butts being mentally disabled.

"He's like a 7-year-old," Dalton said. "He's never hurt anybody since I've known him. Everybody says he's a big gentle man, but he's scary to people. He's over 6-foot-4."

Dalton said he hadn't heard about the shooting.

"I don't know what happened," Dalton said. "I don't know why somebody would shoot him. There's no need. Usually if you yell at him he will leave."

Dalton said Butts had been living in Springfield with a woman since he was released from jail, and he didn't have a job.

Butts' stepmother, Michelle Butts, said Butts previously received Social Security disability for his mental handicap but lost the payments because he had been in jail. She said he has been panhandling.

"He has to panhandle because he can't pay for anything," Michelle Butts. "He has to have money to pay the bills."

Michelle Butts said his relatives have discussed going to court to have him declared incompetent but haven't had the money to do so.

"He trusts everybody," she said. "He listens to people who tell him things to do that are bad, and he thinks he's just helping them out."

Butts' sister, Stephanie Butts, said police have told the family that they can't see him. Police say it's routine to not allow visitation of someone in custody.

Butts is on probation and parole for burglary and has a second-degree felony burglary warrant in Greene County and a municipal traffic warrant in Springfield, according to police. According to court records, Butts was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a 2010 burglary. He was released on probation in October 2012.

Court records show he failed to appear for probation violation hearing in September and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

"The Springfield Police Department was dispatched to Walmart Neighborhood Market at 1320 S. Glenstone Ave. in reference to an anonymous call to check a panhandling subject who may have outstanding warrants," police said in the release.

The release also says that the man ran from the officer in the southeast direction toward Bennett Street. "The officer discharged his duty weapon and the subject sustained a gunshot wound. The officer then requested emergency medical services," the release says.

The Criminal Investigation Division and Investigation and Internal Affairs Unit are both conducting investigations, police say. Internal affairs units check on the actions of police within the department and can recommend discipline when warranted. It's likely the department is considering the officer's actions in light of the department's policy toward the use of deadly force.

The News-Leader requested a copy of the policy, but it was not available by press time. Attempts to reach Police Chief Paul Williams were unsuccessful.

State law says such force should only be used when an officer "reasonably believes that such use of deadly force is immediately necessary to effect the arrest and also reasonably believes that the person to be arrested has committed or attempted to commit a felony; is attempting to escape by use of a deadly weapon; or may otherwise endanger life or inflict serious physical injury unless arrested without delay."

At the scene, police put evidence markers next to a cardboard sign and a bag in the grass next to the Glenstone Avenue parking lot entrance of the Walmart Neighborhood Market. From the scene, it appeared to have been the panhandler's sign.

It said, "Wife 7 months pregnant / two dogs lost job in need of help / God Bless you!"

Donna Williamson, the assistant manager at a nearby mattress store, said she heard a shot and then saw a police officer with his gun drawn chasing a young man.

"I saw a kid run in a white T-shirt, Williamson said. "The cop was chasing after him with his gun. I wasn't sure what was going on."

Insurance agent Mark Adkins saw the man after the shooting. Adkins said he was lying face down with a stain on his back.

"I realized it was blood," Adkins said.

Yellow crime scene tape surrounded part of the Walmart parking lot and part of the nearby Brown Derby, a liquor store.

Sangyeal Lee, with the Asian Food and Gift Market on Glenstone, said he saw a police car race through the parking lot, so he went outside to see what had happened.

He saw Butts laying on the ground next to Brown Derby on Bennett Street

"Police said, 'Don't move' " to Butts, Lee said.

There were about 10 police cars, Lee said.

Lisa Chalmers, the co-owner of a nearby dental lab, said she didn't hear the shooting but saw the man lying on the ground afterward. An orange cone now marks that spot.

"I'm curious about why they would shoot him," Chalmers said.

She said there have been problems with fights in the area and people stealing from the Walmart.

Christine Temple and Dave Iseman contributed to this report.