Wake deputy shoots man during drug raid

WILLOW SPRING, N.C. — A Wake County sheriff's deputy shot and wounded a man Saturday afternoon during a search of a Willow Spring home that authorities suspected was being used as a meth lab.

Officers with Wake County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team and State Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant for drugs, drug paraphernalia and a meth lab at the home at 1913 Buck Rowland Road around 3:15 p.m., according to spokesman Phyllis Stephens.

When officers entered the residence, James Robert Crumpler confronted them, and SRT officer Scott Earp shot Crumpler, Stephens said.

Crumpler was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from WakeMed.

Wake County jail officials said Crumpler was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling place or motor vehicle for a contraband substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Crumpler posted a $5,000 bond and was released around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, jail officials said.

The SBI is investigating the shooting, and Earp has been placed on administrative leave with pay, following standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings in North Carolina.

Stephens said that Earp has worked for the sheriff’s office for 11 years and been on the SRT since July 2008.

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Latest Comments

"Unarmed? Care to tell us something about the article that we don't know? What kind of inside scoop do you have, because nowhere can I find that he was unarmed. So get a clue..."

This is true. Of course, we will probably never find out since te SBI is investigating. We never found out if the man the sheriff's dept. killed in Raleigh Jan. '08 had a gun. He was confronted in his house, too.

CrewMax
November 17, 2009 5:46 p.m.

And in the end, apparently the big lab that was expected wasn't found, so they busted him for a host of minor charges. When is this insanity going to end? This "war" is causing more harm than the drugs themselves could ever do.

htomc42
November 17, 2009 1:22 p.m.

""LEO-NC" Iv'e been out of touch. So WARRANT now gives you permission to shoot an apparently unarmen man. It's amazing what can happen in law enforcement when you don't have to worry about the Constitution."---

Unarmed? Care to tell us something about the article that we don't know? What kind of inside scoop do you have, because nowhere can I find that he was unarmed. So get a clue...

leo-nc
November 16, 2009 5:15 p.m.

LETS US WAIT FOR MORE FACTS TO COME OUT!!!! You all know that the media does not put everything out until the public is stirred up!!! This time wait for the facts...they will trickle out over the next week or two.

COPs eye
November 16, 2009 4:04 p.m.

"valid warrant" Ah, there's the rub. In LEO's world, the police don't have to observe pesky civil rights. (still in the basement or are you on the x-box now?)

CrewMax
November 16, 2009 1:14 p.m.