NEWS RELEASE

UNITED STATES POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE

ATLANTA DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2009

Contact: Tony Robinson

Public Information Officer
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
P. O. Box 381388
Birmingham, AL 35238-1388
205 326-2908 Cell 205 837-0038

For Immediate Release: October 6, 2009

The Hunt Continues for Murderer of Highway Contract

Driver

A murder of a postal highway contract driver occurred at the Camp Hill Post Office,
Alabama, 36850, on Friday evening, October 2, 2009, between 5:40 p.m. and 6:15
p.m. Tips and information can be called in to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service
National Law Enforcement Communication Center, NLECC, at 877-876-2455, option
2. Information can also be given the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department at 256-
825-4264, or the Secret Witness Number at 256-827-2035.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mobile command center has taken up residence
behind the Opelika Post Office.
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On Tuesday morning, October 6, 2009, a mobile command center for investigating

the murder of postal highway contract driver Tony Harrelson was established at the
Opelika Post Office. A team of U.S. Postal Inspectors, Tallapoosa County Sheriff
Jimmy Abbett, and Camp Hill Police Chief Finley met to compare notes and plan the
next steps in the investigation. After the meeting, Postal Inspectors along with their
local law enforcement partners fanned out of the building, each having a specific
task for moving the investigation one-step closer to solve the murder.

Nearly 27,000 flyers announcing that the U.S. Postal Service is offering up to
$100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or
person responsible for the shooting death of highway contract driver Tony Harrelson
of Dadeville have been delivered to businesses and homes. Another 30,000 reward
flyers arrived at the Postal Inspection Service command center early Tuesday
morning and a new wave of distribution has already begun.

"We are grieved by this tragic event. This gentleman was one of our valued postal
employees, taking care of his family and working hard to ensure the American people
receive timely, universal, service,” said William Mitchell, Alabama Postal District
Manager; “I cannot begin to express the sorrow I feel with our losing of a member of
our postal family. Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers are with his family and friends.
All Alabama postal employees share their sorrow and we look forward to perpetrators
being arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "

Crimes like this are rare on postal property. “Post Offices are part of the community
as are the postal and contract employees that help keep the postal service going
strong,” Assistant Postal Inspector in Charge Keith Morris said, “And the community
can help keep their post office safe and possibly prevent another incident like this
one by reporting suspicious activity to their local police and sheriff departments.”

Regarding the potential sentencing for this crime, Title 18, United States Code,
Section 1111 states: “Whoever is guilty of murder in the first degree shall be
punished by death or by imprisonment for life; Whoever is guilty of murder in the
second degree, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.”

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About the U.S. Postal Inspection Service
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The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the country. For more than 200
years, Postal Inspectors have protected the U.S. Postal Service, secured the nation’s mail system and ensured public trust in
the mail. To learn more, visit https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov.