Crime Stoppers offering $1,000 reward for info regarding attempted murder of police officer

Cumberland Valley Crime Stoppers are offering $1,000 cash reward for the information leading to the arrest of the person, or people wanted in connection with the attempted murder of Williamsburg Police Officer Shawn Jackson.

During the early morning hours of July 30, someone sabotaged Jackson’s personal vehicle outside his Bee Creek residence in northern Whitley County. Later that day on US25W he lost control of the 2003 Chevy pick-up truck and ran off the roadway.

"Luckily, the good Lord was with me and I was going at a very slow rate of speed when this happened," Jackson said. "If this had happened between my residence and where it actually happened at, it is safe to say there would have been a very serious accident with serious physical injury or possibly death."

Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird opened an attempted murder investigation in early August after authorities learned that the vehicle had been tampered with in an apparent attempt to kill Jackson.

Police declined to say how the vehicle was sabotaged.

"This is very personal. I can deal with people saying and doing what they want to me," Jackson said. "When you have family involved, namely two children that would be targeted by somebody that is probably a regular drug user because of me being so publicly outspoken against drugs that is why I say they are a spineless coward."

Authorities believe a possible motive is that certain people in the northern end of Whitley County near where Jackson lives may view him as a threat to drug users and the drug trade in that area.

"There are ‘persons of interest’ in this case, and Chief Bird does have a few leads that are being investigated," Jackson said.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact any local law enforcement agency, the Williamsburg Police Department or Cumberland Valley Crime Stoppers hotline at (606) 878-CRIME.