FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2026
MOBILE, Alabama – District Attorney Keith Blackwood announced today that a Special Mobile County Grand Jury has returned indictments against two members of the Prichard Police Department following an investigation into alleged misconduct within the agency.
The Special Grand Jury indicted:
- Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight on charges of Use of Official Position or Office for Personal Gain (Ethics Violation) and Theft by Deception.
- Prichard Police Sergeant Aaron Tucker on charges of Use of Official Position or Office for Personal Gain (Ethics Violation) and Theft by Deception.
According to the indictments, the Grand Jury found probable cause to believe that Knight and Tucker unlawfully used public time and equipment for their personal financial benefit through private funeral procession services. The Grand Jury further concluded that the evidence supported charges under Alabama’s Ethics Act and Theft by Deception statutes.
These indictments are the result of a broader, ongoing investigation initiated by the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office after federal authorities arrested Prichard Police Officer Emmanuel Naman Dotch II on allegations including civil rights violations, bribery, evidence tampering, extortion, and related offenses arising from his duties as a police officer. According to the federal criminal complaint, Dotch is accused of abusing his position to conceal crimes, unlawfully detain individuals, accept bribes, and tamper with evidence.
In addition to returning criminal indictments, the Special Grand Jury issued a public report expressing serious concerns regarding the operations and management of the Prichard Police Department. The report cites evidence presented during the investigation concerning systemic failures within the department, including evidence handling, investigative practices, and officer misconduct. The Grand Jury concluded that significant reforms are necessary to restore public confidence.
Among its recommendations, the Grand Jury urged the City of Prichard to:
- Begin proceedings to remove Walter Knight as Chief of Police;
- Abolish and rebuild the Prichard Police Department using nationally recognized accreditation standards as the framework for reform; and
- Contract with Mobile County for law enforcement services while the department is rebuilt.
“The recommendations made by the Grand Jury are extraordinary, but so are the circumstances that led to them,” Blackwood said. “The citizens of Prichard deserve a police department that is professional, accountable, and worthy of the tremendous public trust placed in every law enforcement officer.”
Blackwood also thanked the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile Police Department, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the numerous state and federal law enforcement partners who assisted throughout the investigation.