Mobile Co. Deputy Shot In Hat

Mobile County Deputy Jerome Howard has served plenty of papers during his 18-years with the sheriff's office but he never thought he would have such a close call.

Deputy Jerome Howard's hat takes the bullet that barely misses his head. Deputy Howard's day started as in Fowl River on Joe Carl Drive South. At about 7am on Wednesday, he's serving a probate order to a man named Carl Williams.

Investigators believe that Williams spent a lot of time in the woods behind his house with a stockpile of weapons. To top it off, Williams is wanted on criminal mischief and domestic violence charges. Neighbor Emily Bowie says he beat up his mom a few days ago. "Anytime you put your hand on your mother, you should be there. He got the sweetest mother in the world and she don't bother nobody."

When Deputy Howard stops by the house on Wednesday morning to take Williams in for a mental evaluation, he takes off. Investigators say Williams leaves out the back door and heads for the woods.

When the deputy gets back in his car, a single shot is fired by an SKS assault rifle. The bullet goes through the driver side door and into the hat that deputy Howard is wearing. Then, it grazes the brim and flies out the passenger door.

Deputy Howard was treated for minor injuries from the bullet fragments that hit his head but is expected to be fine. Williams was taken into custody a short time later and the assault rifle used in the shooting has been recovered too.