FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2025 Homewood Police Department News Release Arson Suspect Arrested On August 22nd, 2025, at approximately 2:30 PM, Homewood Police and Fire Departments responded to Walmart, located at 209 Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood, on a fire call. It was determined that a shopping cart full of items was deliberately set on fire inside the store, forcing the store to evacuate. The store was closed for the remainder of the day, and Walmart reported over $130,000 in damage due to the fire. Homewood Police Department detectives began an arson investigation. During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Mercutio Terrell Southall, age 40, of Birmingham. Southall is a known Black Lives Matter activist who was previously arrested and plead guilty to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest during a demonstration in downtown Homewood in 2015. He was also arrested and convicted of possessing a firearm at a demonstration in Montgomery County in 2016. Verified evidence shows Southall attending the Black Lives Matter mass protest at the Homewood Soccer Park at approximately 11:35 AM on August 22nd. Southall is seen actively engaging and conversing with protesters at the Soccer Park. Southall then leaves the Soccer Park and travels to Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway, where he fills up a shopping cart full of rags, blankets, charcoal bags, small engine fuel, and paint thinner. Southall then pre-positions the shopping cart in a clothing aisle and returns to the mass protest at the Homewood Soccer Park. When the large group leaves the Soccer Park to go to downtown Homewood, Southall is seen driving back to Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway, where he facilitates the ignition of the fire inside the store, causing a mass evacuation. After Southall was identified by Homewood Police detectives, he was arrested and charged with Arson – 1st Degree and Criminal Mischief – 1st Degree. Southall was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond for the Arson – 1st Degree charge due to Aniah’s Law. The Homewood Police Department is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms on pursuing federal arson charges. The investigation is still ongoing, with detectives considering pursuing charges on additional participants in the future.

Crime Report for the Week of August 25, 2025 08/18/25 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 10 block of Greensprings Hwy and the driver was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 08/18/25 Narcotics Arrest - Officers investigated a suspicious person in the 1200 block of Columbiana Rd. The subject was in possession of cocaine and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 08/21/25 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Chastaine Circle and a pistol was stolen. 08/21/25 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 100 block of State Farm Pkwy and a wallet was stolen. 08/22/25 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 3100 block of Whitehall Rd and a pistol was stolen. 08/22/25 Narcotics Arrest - Officers investigated a suspicious person in the 400 block of West Valley Ave. The subject was in possession of methamphetamine and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 08/23/25 Narcotics Arrests - Officers investigated two suspicious subjects in the 1200 block of Columbiana Road. Both subjects were in possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine and were arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. Shared from the Homewood AL PD app at https://apps.myocv.com/share/a66835209

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2025 Homewood Police Department News Release Arrests Made in Downtown Homewood On August 22nd, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM, the Homewood Police Department began receiving multiple calls from merchants, motorists, and citizens about a large group of disorderly persons obstructing traffic on 18th Street South in downtown Homewood. Officers responded and observed a large group in the roadway obstructing traffic at multiple points on 18th Street South. The Homewood Police Department arrested six individuals for Disorderly Conduct. Three of those six individuals were armed with handguns and were additionally charged with Possessing a Firearm while Participating in a Demonstration. One of the armed individuals was also charged with Resisting Arrest. Three of the arrested individuals were from Louisiana and the other three were from Alabama. Homewood Police officers also towed a vehicle that was used to facilitate the disorderly conduct by obstructing the flow of traffic. All six arrested individuals were transported to Homewood City Jail where they posted bond and were released.

Crime Report for the Week of August 11, 2025 08/05/25 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 1500 block of Valley Ave. The driver was in possession of marijuana and cocaine and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 08/05/25 Theft - A bicycle was stolen from the 200 block of Willow Bend Rd. 08/06/25 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Kent Lane and a pistol was stolen. 08/07/25 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Greensprings Hwy. The driver was in possession of fentanyl and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 6, 2025 Homewood Police Department News Release Jefferson County District Attorney Decides Officer Involved Shooting was Justified The Homewood Police Department has been informed by the Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr that there will be no criminal charges filed against the Homewood police officer involved in the shooting of Jabari Peoples on June 23, 2025. After a review of the facts and circumstances, including the findings of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Carr stated the following, “this shooting is deemed justified”. The Homewood Police Department has received requests and inquiries regarding the release of the body-worn camera footage to the public. As previously stated, pursuant to the Code of Alabama, Sections 36-21-210 and 212, the Homewood Police Department may not release the body-worn camera footage to the public. The video footage may only be disclosed to or viewed by the following parties, as defined in the below sections of the statute: Section 36-21-212 Disclosure of Recordings. (a) Recordings in the custody of a law enforcement agency shall be disclosed to an individual or personal representative only as provided by this article. This article does not apply to the exchange of recordings between law enforcement or prosecuting agencies. An individual requesting disclosure of a recording must make a written request to the head of the custodial law enforcement agency that states the date and approximate time of the activity captured in the recording or otherwise identifies the activity with reasonable particularity sufficient to identify the recording to which the request refers. (c) A custodial law enforcement agency may only disclose a recording to the following: (1) An individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording. (2) A personal representative of an adult individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording if the adult individual has consented to the disclosure. (6) A personal representative of a deceased individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording. (d) When disclosing a recording, the custodial law enforcement agency shall disclose only those portions of the recording that are relevant to the individual’s request.