Mom speaks for wounded trooperPatrolman was shot during traffic stop By Bo Petersen (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Alan Hawes ''The first thing he said was, ‘Momma, you all right?' '' Mattie Brown says of her injured son, Highway Patrol Cpl. Mitch Brown. Mattie Brown struggles to describe how it felt to see her only son in the hospital bed, his state trooper uniform cut away, his bandaged left arm shattered by a .45 slug. She can't speak. She puts her hand softly to her lips, shaking her head, blinking back tears. "The first thing he said was, 'Momma, you all right?'" she almost whispers. Highway Patrol Cpl. Mitch Brown is out of surgery and back home, recuperating. He's beginning what's expected to be seven or eight months of recovery before he can climb back in the patrol car. His arm has a rod in it now. His back has a huge welt from where the safety vest stopped one bullet. His hip is bruised from the patrol radio that stopped another. The vest and radio might have saved his life. On Sunday afternoon, the day after an Orangeburg County sheriff's deputy was shot to death responding to a domestic violence call, Brown made a traffic stop for speeding. He pulled over a car with three occupants at a gas station full of customers at the intersection of U.S. Highways 176 and 301. The 32-year-old Ladson resident had just been promoted to corporal, taking over a patrol in Orangeburg County. He's an Army veteran who served in Korea, in Bosnia. This was routine. Then a passenger in the back seat opened fire, spraying shots, and ran into the woods. His left arm useless, his radio dead, Brown handcuffed at least one of the others and staggered to the store. Customers pumping at the gas tanks helped Brown call 911. The fleeing suspect was arrested after a three-hour search by a swarm of state and local officers, police dogs and a helicopter. Anthony Donnell Glover, 21, and two of his uncles, all of Columbia, are charged with assault and battery with intent to kill. Glover, Anthony Troy Glover, 34, and Michael Glover, 37, were being held Wednesday without bond in the Orangeburg County Detention Center. The trooper's father, Mitchell Brown, gets a little angry thinking about it all. He's seen the videos of troopers manhandling suspects; he knows what people are saying about the Highway Patrol. "A criminal gets mistreated, they flash that on the news quick. But these two officers who got shot over the weekend ... there's no justice. I guess they weren't mistreated. And the guy who shot my son had the nerve to say he didn't mean to hurt him," he said. Mattie Brown has never worried about her son, not in the Army, not in the Highway Patrol. Two photos of him are on the mantel in the living room; one in the Army uniform, one in the Highway Patrol uniform. "He always knew what to do to protect himself, when to do it and where to do it. He's always been like that. If he says he can do it, he can do it," she said. But she prayed every mile of the frantic car ride to a Columbia hospital on Sunday. All she knew was that there had been an accident and that her son was talking. The sight of him in that hospital bed stopped her short. Three days later, on the sofa by the photos, she leans her arms on her knees and clutches a handkerchief like a lifeline. "I could have been sitting in here dressed all in black, grieving," she said. "I'm not speaking only for my son. I'm speaking of everyone who goes out there and risks their lives. They say, 'They know the job is dangerous.' Sitting up in your house is dangerous. Somebody could kick your door in. Those people are watching over us as we sleep. Why can't we protect them?" she said. "They only have one trooper to go out with no backup because they don't have the funding. How many more people must die before we get more people out there?" she said. "He was in it by himself until those people at the gas station got involved, and that makes me feel good. Get involved." Her sad eyes lighten a little as her son walks in the room, cradling the arm in a sling. He sits in obvious pain, rubbing his hand across his head. "This is my joy, compared to what other people go through," she said. Mitch Brown has been instructed not to speak about the incident until the Highway Patrol holds a press conference. Asked why those were his first words in the hospital room, he looks at his mother, a long look. "I'm her only son. I'm her youngest. We've always had this closeness," he said. "I don't want her to be in pain. I'd rather be in pain before she is." Reach Bo Petersen at 745-5852 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by bayoucajun on May 8, 2008 at 3:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God Bless him.. and all of those out there that are here to "Protect and Serve". May justice be swift and justifiable.. May they never have another chance to "attempt" to kill another Law Enforcment Officer.
Posted by ForPnC on May 8, 2008 at 4:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get well soon so you can hit those streets again. WE NEED YOU!
Posted by amberjack2362 on May 8, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get well soon. My son is a police officer and this is my worst fear, a " routine traffic stop" . I wish we could place 2 police officers in the cars.
The American Justice system is so bad that suspects have no fear of shooting or killing anyone. The Judges need to do there job and give max penalties allowed by law.
My thoughts & prayers.
Posted by tellthetruth on May 8, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Cpl Brown and your mother for serving us. Maybe if we stop the witchhunt on troopers people would understand why these officers face death everyday they clock in and get off of thier backs. When the crooks run and I say we give the officers the right to stomp as much behind as nessecary when they pull you over. Great job SCHP keep up the good work!
Posted by wonderdog on May 8, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bless you, sir.....please get well soon.
Posted by RTC on May 8, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cpl. Brown, thank you for all that you do for the citizens of SC. Please make a quick recovery.
I pray that Mrs. Brown can get back some peace of mind.
I feel terrible, as a mother, knowing her agony concerning a child. There is no stronger bond.
Support the SCHP, they need us as much as we need them.
Posted by wheels2u666 on May 8, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank God you will be ok Officer,
A routine traffic stop for speeding and this 21 yr old punk, with 2 wonderful Uncles in the car with him, decides to be a tough guy for what? so now another brother in the big house for 10-15 yrs, all so he can be a tough guy,
Cpl Browns Dad is right to defend the HP, good for him, the news only shows their blighted, one sided view, the girl who refuses not once but probably 25 times to provide license and registration to a polite HP officer, no respect whatsoever to police.
3 thugs getting wacked around by 13 police officers in PA, why? well because police are fed up by a system all over this country where thugs are arrested time and time again, violent thugs, only to be slapped on the wrist and send out to rob, steal and kill if need be, the cops are fed up and I dont blame them, is it right, maybe not, but its not right for the courts or justice system to let loosed career criminals, sorry but you commit more than 3 crimes youre not going to change your evil ways.Lets demand from our legislatures stiffer sentences , the guy that did the shooting in this case, 15 yrs without parole, minimum, 3 crimes in a given period 20 -25 yrs, no parole, build these prision in northern mexico, its a waste land anyway, staff them with mexican prison guards, build them with mexican labor, its a win win situation for everyone. NO Ac , No cable, they have to dig and work their own gardens for extra food, no more coddling,,, extreme yes , but whats in place isnt working!!!
Posted by wpc3iop on May 8, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get well soon Cpl. Brown...we need you on the job!
Posted by ColdBeer on May 8, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get well soon Cpl. Brown. Thank you for the job you do.
Thank the Highway Department for the training and safety equipment that saved this man's life.
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 8, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get well soon, Bless you and your family Trooper
Tourism is the life blood of this state. It's the basis that makes everything happen. Good and bad. They should consider the need to pay the troopers more and put two in the car.
Posted by ChrisPia on May 8, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank You Cpl Brown for Your Dedicated Service To The People of SC. Get Well soon.You are appreciated!
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 8, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Brown, you are obviously a wonderful mother who has a beautiful relationship with her son. His first concern, even in his condition, was for your welfare. I pray that Cpl Brown has a speedy recovery and that you are able to be strong to help him through these times.
Posted by Pols101 on May 8, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The "bad guy" has already said that he feared for his life because of the way he saw the highway patrol abusing people on all of those videos that you have seen. Do you guys think this is a valid defense or is it just an excuse to kill a trooper? Do you guys think that the press is responsible at least a little for this incident?
Posted by nochasgirl on May 8, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was just thinking about this situation this morning when I caught the tail-end of a story on the radio about police abuse. We never see the other side of this story. Would I want to do the job of these officers....no way. Risking my life so some kid with a gun can shoot at me? Why would anyone who gets stopped for speeding just shoot an officer? I just don't understand, there has to be something more to the story. I respect these officers who risk their lives everyday. Kids and thugs with guns....no value of life whatsoever. Very sad.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 8, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My prayers go out to Cpl. Brown and his family. His dad is right about the bad light officers are getting though!
Posted by chudbrocktune on May 8, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First off, I want to say I am very happy that Cpl Brown is going to be ok and back behind the wheel of a patrol car soon. He sounds like the kind of man we need protecting us. The second thing i want to say is that whoever (judge or jury) decides the sentence for the piece-of-garbage who shot him, needs to, no is obligated to give the maximum penalty allowable by law. This guy intended on killing Cpl Brown, no matter what stupid statements he makes to the contrary, and as far as i am concerned that is just as bad as if he actually had killed him. Any person who feels it is acceptable to try to KILL someone to get out of a speeding ticket does not belong in society. I would not blink an eye or feel the slight bit of remorse if they sentenced this guy to live in prison the rest of his life. Sadly, I know this will not be the case and this person (term used loosely) will be back living amongst us, more likely sooner than later. The least we can do, for Cpl Brown and his family, is put this guy away for as long as legally possible.
Posted by ln1959 on May 8, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My prayers go out to this Cpl. Brown and his family. I could just imagine what his mother was going through when she seen her son laying there in the hospital.
Get well soon.
Posted by theronce on May 8, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pols101, the "bad guy" is not a "bad guy". He is a bad guy, period, no quotes, no question. No, that statement is not a valid defense. The statement is a lie to get others to excuse his attempt to kill a cop. The press is in no way responsible for this; the bad guy is totally responsible. Gee!
Posted by Girleygirl on May 8, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree w/Theronce....
People need to stop blaming others and start blaming themselves. He should have used his common sense.
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 8, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EVERY BAD GUY FEARS HIS JUSTICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS GUY WAS A WHIMP AND WAS AFRAID TO FACE HIS JUSTICE!! THAT'S ALL.....WHAT A BABY!! WHAT A JERK!!!!!!!
YOU BREAK THE LAW AND THEN 'FEAR THE HAND OF JUSTICE'....WELL YOU SHOULD!!! I BET YOU WERE A FREAKIN' BRAT WHEN U WERE A KID TOO!!
OFFICER...WE COMMEND UR BRAVERY AND SERVING JUSTICE SIR!! AND ALL UR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OUT THERE TOO !!!
THANK YOU FOR GOING TO WORK EVERYDAY AND KEEPING THE PEACE....AND 'MAKING PEACE' WHEN OTHERS WANT TO BREAK IT!!!
TO ALL FAMILY MEMBERS OF OFFICERS OUT THERE...MY HEART IS YOURS!!!
never forgetting together,
missy
Posted by Pols101 on May 8, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, it will be his defense in court. I was just wanting opinions and I am glad I got it. All it will take is one juror and it will be a mistrial. I think it is a valid-enough defense to raise a little doubt in someone mind. I am a retired SC trooper. In this case the trooper did a great job.