Sealed records contradict claims of former Capitol Police officer made in federal court

According to the document, Walker was a member of Capitol Police’s FLEX Team when he attempted to stop Emmanuel Spells on the night of July 27.

Spells refused to stop, leading Walker on a police pursuit. During the chase, three Jackson Police Department officers joined in.

Walker eventually cut Spells off, crashing his vehicle into a tree and causing Spells’ vehicle to swerve into a yard before coming to a stop.

July 27 chase timeline (according to Walker):

• Walker notices white Honda Accord traveling on State Street; says driver not wearing seatbelt
• Walker notices vehicle turn onto Woodrow Wilson toward I-55, activates blue lights
• Vehicle fails to stop, exits on to I-55; says vehicle traveling at 80 MPH, weaving in and out of traffic
• Vehicle exits on to Northside Drive, continues along Frontage Road to Old Canton Road; driver allegedly runs numerous traffic signals
• Driver allegedly tosses out bag of white substance out of passenger window near Old Canton and Ridgewood Road intersection
• Vehicle continues on Old Canton toward Jackson Police Department Precinct Four
• Vehicle turns into that parking lot before turning into gas station and onto Parkway Drive
• Vehicle loses control near Parkway and Sedgwick Drive intersection

The report states that JPD officers removed Spells from his vehicle and handcuffed him.

After Spells was “brought to his feet,” Walker allegedly grabbed the victim, slammed his head into the hood of his car, and put him back onto the ground before kicking him multiple times in the head and face.

The FBI’s Memphis Field Office received a complaint about the incident in August of that year. The next month, agents met with at least two JPD officers who discussed the incident.

One of those officers, a JPD detective, told investigators that he “witnessed the MSCP officer ‘bounce’ the suspect’s head off the hood of the suspect’s car a few times.”

That officer also told agents that “after the suspect went to the ground, the MSCP officer kicked the suspect in the head or eye around ten times,” and that had he been a JPD officer, the detective “would have pursued the matter until the officer was removed from the force.”

Former Deputy Chief Vincent Grizzell shared body camera footage with the FBI, which showed “a Caucasian plainclothes officer taking a handcuffed subject over to the front of his car.”

The following day, the FBI contacted Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey, who confirmed the “date, time, general location, and nature of the arrest” and the name of the arresting officer.

In his report, Walker said that “once the suspect was handcuffed, Walker picked up the suspect and placed him against the front driver’s side fender well to search his person. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and a large clear glass jar of a green leafy substance was found.”

Walker also reported that Spells tossed a bag containing a white substance out of his car near the intersection of Ridgewood Road and Old Canton Road during the pursuit, however that bag was never found.

Spells was taken to the Hinds County Detention Center that night. However, the FBI reported the jail’s photo machine was not working at the time.

Walker maintained during his sentencing hearing on Monday that no medical records from the jail existed. However, the pre-sentencing report states that a health screening was conducted by jail staffers, and Spells “had been hurt/injured and had a swollen/bruised left eye, a mark under his left eye, and some redness in his right eye, from an altercation.”

Spells was interviewed by the FBI on October 14, 2023. He said officers attempted to pull him over because he failed to signal while changing lanes. He told agents that he “was afraid, so he drove to his home, which he considered a safe space for the stop.”

Recordings from body camera footage reveal Spells said he was scared because officers killed his brother. WLBT has not verified those claims.

The victim went on to tell agents that he did not speed, and that an officer cut him off, forcing him to drive into a yard to prevent him from crashing into a police cruiser.

[READ: Former Capitol Police officer pleads not guilty to federal civil rights charge]

He said the same officer who slammed his head into the hood of the vehicle was the same one who took him out of the car, and the same one who punched him.

Spells’ statement to the FBI contradicts comments made by Walker on Monday. Walker told U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate under oath that it was a JPD officer who pulled Spells out of the car and punched him.

Records indicate Spells was kicked at least eight times by the unnamed officer and at least one other.

And while Walker told Wingate that Spells refused to be treated by AMR, Spells told the FBI that no ambulance ever showed up.

Spells says he was refused medical treatment at the jail, and that he was in custody two days before he “was able to bail out and [seek] medical attention at Baptist Hospital.”

He was diagnosed with “post-concussion symptoms,” according to the report.

Walker was arrested in December 2024. He initially pleaded not guilty to one civil rights violation and was released on a $10,000 bond.

The trial was initially scheduled for February 10, 2025. However, the case was continued multiple times, finally being rescheduled for December 2.

That day, Walker entered a guilty plea, and a sentencing date was set for April 8. That sentencing was then rescheduled for May 27, and then August 10. During that status conference on August 10, the sentencing was rescheduled for August 31.

[READ: Former Capitol Police officer pleads guilty in federal case]

Walker faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He remains free on bond.

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