The Pine Bluff Police Office of Professional Standards has initiated an investigation into the actions of an officer after he saw a teenager reportedly jump off the 28th Street Overpass earlier this month.
Capt. Greg Shapiro confirmed that a citizen complaint was filed against Officer Phillip Meachem following the incident on July 8 at 11:30 p.m.
Police reports said Meachem was on patrol when he saw four teenagers walking in the middle of the overpass and when he turned around to warn them to get off the street, three of the teenagers ran while the fourth jumped over the railing.
Meachem said in his report that he went around to the east side of the overpass by Purnell’s Laundry to see if the male who jumped would come out through there but he did not, and an attempt to locate the other three boys at the top of the overpass was unsuccessful
About 50 minutes later, Meachem was sent back to the overpass area to investigate a report that the boy who jumped off the overpass was on the ground under the overpass and was injured.
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The 15-year-old boy was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center by ambulance for treatment of his injuries.
Meachem reported that he talked to the other three boys, one age 14, the other two age 16, and asked them why they had waited so long to call for help and the boys reportedly said they “were scared” and that the victim “told them not to call anyone for help because they thought they were going to be arrested for an earlier incident that took place.”
Because of their ages, the names of the juveniles are not being released.
Shapiro said Meachem has not been placed on administrative leave and is still assigned to the Department’s Patrol Division.
When the investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to Police Chief Brenda Davis-Jones and any possible disciplinary actions would be up to her.