Off-Duty Officer Catch suspects in the Act

Today Meridian Police Department (MPD) is investigating an incident that left a man hospitalized, two arrested, and one possible suspect still at large after an off-duty officer arrived home last night.

Around 6 P.M. on Monday, an off-duty MPD officer was going home when he stumbled upon two men dressed in all black with face coverings. Police say initially the officer thought he caught the men trying to commit a burglary.

“When he was first walking up, he had passed a guy smoking a cigarette which he didn’t think much of because that’s not out of the norm”, stated Sgt. Heather Luebbers. “When he entered the breezeway, he saw two males dressed in all black with face coverings, so his initial thought was that maybe he had walked upon a burglary in progress”

The incident happened at East Gate apartments off HWY 39. After seeing the suspects, the officer took precautions and held one at gunpoint until backup arrived.

“One suspect ran into a vacant apartment, that was unlocked or unsecured for maintenance reasons. The other started walking towards the officer but he had his hands in his pockets and he wouldn't take his hands out; so, at that point, the off-duty officer held the guy at gunpoint and gave him commands to lay on the ground in which the suspect complied.”

Police say after backup arrived then another male came out of the property’s laundry facility screaming that he had been stabbed. The victim was stabbed three times and was taken to a local hospital. The severity of his injuries is still unknown.

“He came out yelling that he had been stabbed. He was stabbed in the back, neck, and stomach area. I don’t know the condition at this time, but I do know that he was taking a hospital”, said Sgt.Luebbers

There could be third suspect police say who still has not been detained. When the officer arrived at the complex, he passed a man smoking a cigarette, but he did not think much of it. Now MPD says that this man could have possibly been the lookout.

“I think the officer was just being vigilant of his surroundings”, stated Luebbers. “I don’t think it was anything necessarily out of the ordinary. Because initially, he didn’t think anything of the guy standing there because it's not uncommon for people to be outside smoking. It was just that where he was and where the suspects were makes us believe that he was possibly being a lookout”

The two suspects by the name of Tyler Culpepper and Cameron Mays have both been charged with armed robbery. Mays has a second charge of aggravated assault for the stabbing.