A WEE BIT OF EXCITEMENT IN GULF SHORES, ALABAMA

Man in shootout with Gulf Shores police dies after fall from ninth floor balcony

By Levi Edwards

AL.com
September 9, 2019

A Nevada man, who may have taken a gun from a police officer, fell to his death during a shootout with Gulf Shores police.

The man was identified as Russell Mallette of Sparks, Nevada during a press conference with the Gulf Shores police department and Baldwin County District Attorney Bob Wilters Monday afternoon.

The incident happened at approximately 4 a.m. Monday at the Ocean House condos on West Beach Boulevard.

According to Sgt. Jason Woodruff, Gulf Shores police department’s spokesman, an officer pulled over Mallete during a traffic stop on West Beach Boulevard.

The officer had a brief conversation with the occupant of the vehicle and believed the man was driving under the influence, Woodruff said. Mallette then sped away from the officer and was chased down by the officer a short distance away at the Ocean House condos.

A physical altercation then ensued between Mallette and the officer in the parking lot of the condominiums.

According to Wilters, Mallette then obtained a firearm from what is believed to be from the arresting officer, and started to fire at the officer. Back up officers arrived at the scene to see the suspect shooting at the officer on the fifth floor of the condominiums. The backup officers then proceeded to fire shots at the suspect as well.

The suspect ran to the ninth floor of the condominiums while still firing at the officers. The shootout with the officers ended when Mallette fell off the balcony and died. It has yet to be determined if him falling was a result of him being shot or him deliberately jumping off the balcony.

Mallette has faced various public intoxication and DUI charges in Baldwin County dating back to 2000.

No police were hurt or wounded in the shootout with the deceased. The Baldwin County Crime Unit is currently investigating the case.