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BOND SET IN PB POLICE-RELATED SHOOTING

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:00 PM CST

A $250,000 bond was set Wednesday for a Pine Bluff man who was shot in the head after he reportedly fired shots at a police officer Monday morning.

Circuit Judge Berlin Jones set the bond for Corey Lambert, 25, after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Lambert with aggravated robbery, criminal attempt capital murder, theft of property, and being a felon in possession of a firearm because of a previous conviction.

Deputy Prosecutor Karres Manning said police were sent to Stitch and Clean at 2117 W. 30th Ave., at 8:55 a.m. Monday in response to a reported robbery in progress, and when an officer arrived at the store, was told that a black male wearing a red sweat suit, black shirt and blue bandanna over his face had entered the store, pulled out a black handgun, and demanded money.

Manning said a store employee said that the man fled after taking cash, and while the officer was at the store, reported hearing gunshots.

“Another officer who had responded to the area saw a black male matching the description of the person who robbed the store in the area of 29th Avenue and Cedar Street,” Manning said. “The officer attempted to stop the man who looked back at the officer, then took off running.

“The suspect then turned around and fired a shot at the officer, who returned fire and hit the suspect in the head,” Manning said.

After the shooting, Lambert was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery and was released Monday afternoon.

The officer was placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation into the shooting, Lt. Bob Rawlinson said. He had not been identified.

When the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to Prosecuting Attorney Steve Dalrymple who will determine if the shooting was justified.

Manning said police recovered $134 cash from Lambert at the scene.

She said Lambert is currently on parole after being convicted of two counts of robbery and theft of property, stemming from cases in 2002, but there is nothing pending in circuit court.

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