LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The former Jefferson County constable who shot a woman in a Wal-Mart parking lot has now filed to run for Metro Council.
In an interview, David Whitlock told WHAS11 News on Jan. 28 he's running in part because members of the community have urged him to do it.
The news is surprising to the woman he shot three years ago; her attorney is sounding off.
'I have to be honest, first indication that I had was to laugh,' attorney Maury Kommor said.
Kommor represents Tammie Ortiz--the woman who was shot at a southwest Louisville Wal-Mart in 2011.
Whitlock was a constable, at the time, and was in the store when Ortiz was suspected of shoplifting.
Security video shows Whitlock firing his weapon in that Wal-Mart parking lot at Ortiz. He says Ortiz ran over his foot and he fired his gun hitting her in the face.
According to Kommor, Ortiz's opinion has not changed since the 2011 incident.
'She knows and thinks that this guy was a cowboy on the streets being allowed to carry a gun,' Kommor said.
Ortiz was never charged with shoplifting but Whitlock was charged. After taking a plea and completing a diversion plan the case against Whitlock was dismissed in December 2013.
'Mistakes happen and everybody has a skeleton in the closet. It was an accident and unfortunately accidents do happen. It's time for us to move forward with this and put the past in the past and the future in the future,' Whitlock said.
Whitlock says he's ready to return to public service.
'The thing I would like to accomplish is cleaner streets, donating a lot of houses that are vacant in the area to Habitat for Humanity so there can be more affordable housing for the people of the 3rd district,' Whitlock said.
Whitlock says he still runs a security business. Whitlock said he does have a weapon but he doesn't carry it with him.
Whitlock knows he has critics but says the voters will have the final say.
'Hopefully everybody will give me a chance to go into office to prove to them that I am a very organized individual that believes in the core values,' Whitlock said. 'I think that I can do a good job if they just give me a try.'
