Hempstead County Deputy Cleared Following Shooting

A Hempstead County Sheriff’s Deputy has been cleared of any wrong doing in a shooting that occurred last month. 8th North District Prosecuting Attorney Kristi McQueen says Deputy Jim Bush acted within the scope of his duties when he shot a suspect who is alleged to have approached officers with a machete type knife in one hand and a pocket knife in the other. The prosecutor’s findings concluded the individual, identified as 36 year old Charles Ray Alford of Henderson, Texas, continued approaching deputies and repeatedly failed to obey the officers commands to drop the weapons.

Reports said Deputy Bush shot one time, striking Alford in the chest. He was transported to a Texarkana hospital and released a few days later. The shooting followed a vehicle pursuit that began in Bowie County, Texas and ended near the Hempstead/Nevada County line on Interstate 30.

Alford is charged with Aggravated Assault.