.Andy Paras/StaffNorth Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt
tells reporters an officer who shot himself and then filed a false report
blaming a black man has been suspended without pay.
A North Charleston cop who reported having been shot early
Wednesday by an unknown suspect actually shot himself, police Chief Jon Zumalt
said today.
“It didn’t happen,” Zumalt said. “No one was back there. He
shot himself.’
Police Sgt. Eddie Bullard has been suspended without pay
pending an internal investigation, Zumalt said. Bullard may face criminal
charges.
“I’m very worried about his mental health,” Zumalt said.
“He’s very troubled.”
About 4:30 a.m. on the Fourth of July, Bullard radioed a
report that he had been shot outside a Rivers Avenue store. He told officers he
had been jumped from behind after he had stopped to talk with a suspicious man
he saw standing outside the store, which was closed.
He reported that the man who jumped him tried to get his gun
and during the struggle, the gun fired twice and one of the rounds apparently
slammed into Bullard’s protective vest, according to a police report.
The bullet did not pierce the vest, but the impact left a
bruise on Bullard’s abdomen. The 15-year veteran was released from the hospital
on Thursday and was recovering at home.
In his report, Bullard was only able to describe his
assailant as a black male. After announcing earlier Friday that police had been
unable to find any suspects, spokesman Spencer Pryor later announced a hastily
called news conference would be held at 6 p.m., just in time for the evening
television newscasts.
Speaking to reporters at City Hall, Zumalt said had had
immediately become uneasy with the facts of case. Zumalt and investigators kept
digging and soon got to the the truth.
Bullard has admitted shooting himself, Zumalt said.