PERKINS – An Alabama murder suspect was arrested at 3:26 a.m. Monday by Perkins Police Officer Billy Laster following a traffic stop in the 800 block of W. Freeman, according to an affidavit.
David Dierre McCovery, 32, of Mobile, Ala., was transported to the Payne County Jail by the Perkins police officer Monday to be held without bond on a murder warrant from Mobile County, Ala., the affidavit said.
“While driving to the jail, McCovery asked me if I was sure the warrant was for murder and not just assault. I told McCovery to not make any statements,” the Perkins police officer alleged in an affidavit.
McCovery was also booked into the Payne County Jail on complaints of attempting to elude, driving under suspension, and possessing marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia, the affidavit said.
McCovery was also wanted in New Orleans on a federal probation warrant, Perkins Police Chief Bob Ernst said.
According to an on-line news report on Nov. 19, 2017, the victim, identified as Robert Rockwell, 50, died after being found unconscious with fractured ribs, a brain aneurism and a stroke in Mobile, Ala.
The Perkins police officer said that at 3:12 a.m. Monday he was parked in the 900 block of W. Freeman when he saw a silver Chevrolet Impala with no working tag lights, according to his affidavit.
After the Perkins officer activated his emergency lights to make a traffic stop, the Impala slowed and then sped up, so the officer used his emergency siren and public announcement system on his patrol car to tell the driver to stop, but the driver continued to go east on W. Freeman, the affidavit alleged.
When the Impala turned into the west parking lot of the casino, Iowa Tribe Police Officer Kevin Roe joined the pursuit, the affidavit alleged.
“I pulled my patrol car parallel to the Impala while Officer Roe was behind him…I exited my patrol car and drew my duty weapon. I put the driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, at gunpoint,” the Perkins officer wrote in his affidavit.
“The driver exited the car with his hands up. I gave him verbal commands to get on the ground, which he did not do. I approached him, placed my weapon back in the holster, and then placed the male subject’s left arm into an arm-bar and assisted him to the ground on his stomach. With the help of Officer Roe, the subject was placed into handcuffs into investigative detention,” the Perkins officer wrote in his affidavit.
“McCovery began to argue about being pulled over and said he wanted to be in an area with video cameras. I informed his actions were an attempt to elude,” the Perkins officer wrote in his affidavit.
“I informed McCovery of the reason for the stop and he argued that the tag lights on the vehicle worked and he demanded I show the lights to him,” the Perkins officer wrote in his affidavit.
After McCovery identified himself, the Perkins officer radioed Payne County dispatch and “A short time later, I learned McCovery was wanted for murder out of Mobile County, Alabama,” the Perkins officer wrote in his affidavit.
“McCovery demanded to see his tag lights. I had Officer Roe turn off the headlights of his patrol car. McCovery saw his tag lights were inoperable. He then apologized to me,” the Perkins officer wrote in his affidavit.
After McCovery allegedly told the Perkins officer that a “blunt” or marijuana cigarette was in his car, the vehicle was searched, the affidavit said.
A zip lock bag with a few pieces of suspected marijuana was found in the car, as well as a red “vape” pen with two cartridges for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and another vape-type product labeled to have “Sativa,” the affidavit alleged. A small container with a few pieces of marijuana was in the middle console of the car, the affidavit alleged.
“While searching the car, McCovery began yelling from my patrol car,” where the officer saw that marijuana was spread throughout the back seat, the affidavit alleged. McCovery had a small amount of marijuana in his hand, the affidavit alleged.
Once that marijuana was scraped from the back seat, the handcuffs on McCovery, who is 6’2” and weighs 280, were adjusted, the affidavit alleged.
“Due to his size the handcuffs could only be placed at the first notch and then double-locked. He was informed of the arrest warrant for murder and he stated he did not murder anyone…McCovery made spontaneous statements that he does not sell marijuana and that he only uses it,” the affidavit alleged.
“McCovery’s two cell phones and $20 cash was removed from the vehicle and placed into his property at the jail,” the affidavit said.
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