Cissy
10-30-2013, 03:51 PM
"No officers were injured during the shooting," Samples said, but "we did have one officer receive a minor injury, not related to the gunfire."
Though police were guarded with details surrounding the case, eyewitnesses claim the shootout was prompted by a code enforcement operation involving an old, rusted and inoperable van owned by Pryor.
Witnesses say a Statesboro Code Compliance officer reported to Pryor's home to seize the van, which has sat idle in the yard for several years.
"He has had the van forever. They have been asking for years for him to move it. He signed some papers, went back into the house, and then all of a sudden everything happened," Roberts said. "The van had a lot of sentimental value for him. He wanted to get it fixed." A tow truck, with the van loaded, was still on the scene hours after the shooting.
The city's Code Compliance department, under the umbrella of Planning and Development, is responsible for "ensuring that the city's physical environment is maintained through the enforcement of codes related to building and property maintenance, sanitation, zoning, etc.," according to the city of Statesboro website. "Code compliance staff is responsible for investigating complaints which may often be categorized as ‘nuisances' including: vacant and dilapidated buildings, overgrown vegetation, front yard parking, abandoned vehicles, litter, etc. The activities of code compliance staff are intended to improve the community's standard of living and enhance property values throughout the city."
Samples said he could neither confirm nor deny the witness accounts, or release the names and job statuses of officers involved in the shooting.
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/54504/
Though police were guarded with details surrounding the case, eyewitnesses claim the shootout was prompted by a code enforcement operation involving an old, rusted and inoperable van owned by Pryor.
Witnesses say a Statesboro Code Compliance officer reported to Pryor's home to seize the van, which has sat idle in the yard for several years.
"He has had the van forever. They have been asking for years for him to move it. He signed some papers, went back into the house, and then all of a sudden everything happened," Roberts said. "The van had a lot of sentimental value for him. He wanted to get it fixed." A tow truck, with the van loaded, was still on the scene hours after the shooting.
The city's Code Compliance department, under the umbrella of Planning and Development, is responsible for "ensuring that the city's physical environment is maintained through the enforcement of codes related to building and property maintenance, sanitation, zoning, etc.," according to the city of Statesboro website. "Code compliance staff is responsible for investigating complaints which may often be categorized as ‘nuisances' including: vacant and dilapidated buildings, overgrown vegetation, front yard parking, abandoned vehicles, litter, etc. The activities of code compliance staff are intended to improve the community's standard of living and enhance property values throughout the city."
Samples said he could neither confirm nor deny the witness accounts, or release the names and job statuses of officers involved in the shooting.
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/54504/