***PEARL POLICE DEPARTMENT MEDIA RELEASE***

April 2, 2018
2:00 p.m.

On March 31, 2018, at approximately 8:56 p.m., Pearl Police Department received multiple calls
regarding a pedestrian lying on the side of I-20 east near mile marker 50. The caller described the
subject to appear to be in the fetal postion near the edge of the roadway. An officer that was
responding to another call was near this area and radioed that he would stop to check the welfare and
safety of the perdestrian.
Upon arrival to the area, the officer accidentally passed the location of the pedestrian and quickly pulled
to the side of the road and turned on his emergency blue lights before beginnning to walk back toward
the pedestrian. The officer approached the pedestrian while wearing a uniform identifying himself as a
police officer, carrying a flashlight, announcing himself as a police officer, with blue lights in the
background.
As he approached the pedestrian still lying on the ground, the subject pulled a gun, firing a round at the
officer. The officer returned fire, striking the suspect. The officer was NOT hit.
Pearl Fire and Rescue along with Pafford Ambulance personnel responded to the scene and evalauted
the wound of the suspect. The shot was a non-fatal shot that still required medical attention. The
suspect was then transported to a local hospital where he was evaluated, treated, and subsequently
released back into the custody of the Pearl Police Department and after being booked was transported
to Rankin County Jail.
The suspect was identified as 24 year old Oscar Willie Leontez Curtis of East Cohea Street in Jackson.
Curtis has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm
by a convicted felon, brandishing a weapon, and discharging a firearm within the city limits.
Curtis’ preliminary court date will be set for April 3, 2018 at 8 a.m.
The officer involved with this incident has been placed on administrative leave per policy while the
officer involved shooting is being investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Pearl Police Chief Dean Scott wishes to thank the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department for their support
of manpower immediately following the incident.

More information will be released when it becomes available in this case.

Lt. Brian McGairty

Public Information Officer
Pearl Police Department