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Alabama High Speed Chase Ends With Fatal Crash In Cantonment
August 1, 2020
A high speed chase of a stolen vehicle that began in Bay Minette ended with a fatal crash some 60 miles away in Cantonment Saturday morning.
The chase ended on Highway 29 in Cantonment near the Companion Animal Clinic when the driver entered the median, lost control and traveled off the roadway into a tree, according to a witness. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol said investigators were not able identify the suspect on scene because he had no identification on his person.
For a photo gallery from the crash scene, click here.
The owner of the truck told NorthEscambia.com that he was inside the Jet Pep convenience store on Highway 31 near Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette when the clerk asked if that was his truck being driven away.
Bay Minette Police said one of their officers spotted the stolen vehicle near McMeans Avenue and West 7th Street.
“The officer attempted to stop the suspected stolen vehicle and the driver of that vehicle refused to stop. A vehicle pursuit was initiated,” Bay Minette Police said in a statement. “The pursuit continued into Escambia Florida, where the suspected stolen vehicle contacted a Bay Minette patrol car. This contact caused the stolen vehicle to lose control and strike a tree on Highway 29 in Escambia County Florida….During the vehicle pursuit the driver of the stolen vehicle struck two Bay Minette Police cars multiple times intentionally.”
Bay Minette Police and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office chased the king cab Chevrolet pickup truck out of Bay Minette and into Escambia County, Alabama. Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said his department was notified of the chase, and one of his officers followed at a safe distance on Highway 31 from Cindebran Drive and south on Main Street to the Florida line.
Video obtained by NorthEscambia.com (posted below), shows Bay Minette Police and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office continuing to chase the vehicle south on Highway 97. The FHP said the Bay Minette Police Department was the lead agency on the chase.
Witnesses also told NorthEscambia.com that the chase traveled into Cottage Hill on Williams Ditch Road and onto Wishbone Road, a dead end street. That’s where the truck was temporarily blocked in by a black law enforcement vehicle. Witnesses said the driver then turned around and headed directly toward an struck a Bay Minette officer’s Tahoe.
Another witness said that a “black tahoe” and other black law enforcement vehicles were directly behind the truck when it wrecked on Highway 29. Sgt. Melanie Peterson of the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office said that ECSO assisted but did not participate directly in the chase.
The vehicle owner described the suspect only as a white male.
“I didn’t get a good look at him,” the owner of the truck said. “I just saw him drive away.”
At the time he spoke exclusively to NorthEscambia.com, the truck’s owner said he had not yet been contacted by police, but he had about the crash.
“The keys were in the vehicle,” he said. “…But things always have a way of working themselves out.”
The investigation into the crash is continuing by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Comments
109 Responses to “Alabama High Speed Chase Ends With Fatal Crash In Cantonment”
I think Bay Minette PD was out of their jurisdiction.
Mike j I have good moral and values it doesn’t mean I don’t have compassion either tragedy happened and I’m grieving the loss of a human who I happened to know , what he done people do everyday doesn’t make it rite , but he can not choose to re-do that , so let him rest in peace! Who are we to judge only god can judge us it doesn’t mean that , I can not feel so terrible for this mans life is gone I don’t created about what he done or anything else for that stuff can be replaced he simply will not get a do over , period ! You will be truly missed I love you best friend !
Christian herrin on August 4th, 2020 9:36 pm,
It’s always hard when someone you know for a long time and had good feelings about has died suddenly, but his death was his own fault. He chose to steal a truck because he thought he could get away, he chose to ram police cars with LEO’s inside them, he chose to drive faster than he should have on that road to try to avoid being caught by the Law that he chose to break, and the sad part is that he died a criminal. We should all teach others to make good choices and not be a thief.
I know the truck was stolen but material things can be replaced , this mans
Life can not !!!!!! Have none of u have a heart this very well could have happened to any family and lesson for the owner but come on all the rude comments about the guys that’s passed is very unnecessary , very personal for me , for I knew the deceased all most all my life !!! Breaks my heart
That code is designed to prevent a vehicle from engaging and hurting someone or rolling and hurting someone. It will not prevent you from filing an insurance claim. Please speak to an attorney, let your attorney talk to your insurance.
So that motor vehicle code is designed to prevent a vehicle from rolling and hurting someone or engaging and hurting someone, it is not designed to prevent people from stealing a vehicle. Talk to an attorney, you should not be out the value of your vehicle because someone stole it. Plenty of people get into accidents all the time because they do something stupid. That is one of the reasons we all have insurance. You are not going to be out the value of your vehicle. Talk with an attorney if your concerned. But do not let anyone who is not an attorney tell you what is what. In fact, let your attorney talk to your insurance company.
Bobby C.,
Regarding ” Can someone please share with me the section of the law which states this, I can’t find it.”
The exact wording is:
“No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.”
You will find it at:
Alabama Code Title 32. Motor Vehicles and Traffic § 32-5A-50
You can read it at website:
https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/alabama/al-code/alabama_code_32-5a-50
among others.
Notice it requires key be out of ignition but does not require the key be outside of the vehicle or hidden from view. Obviously that would be wiser but is not legally required.
I keep reading that leaving the keys of a vehicle in the ignition is illegal. Can someone please share with me the section of the law which states this, I cant find it.
@Previously leo
If my car is stolen, I most definitely wouldn’t want Law Enforcement to chase them like this. One, because there’s an almost definite chance of my vehicle being destroyed (as is the case here). Secondly, thief or not the guy may have not deserved to die. Chances are he would never have offered anything good to society. However, there’s a chance. I believe in second chances and there are lots of people (probably posting here) that have done dumb things as a youngster but grew up to be decent normal folks. Besides, 60 miles. In this instance, nobody innocent died. Had a child been hit by one of the officers, would you really say “just doing his job” over a 3rd degree felony ? Granted, if the guy turned out to be a mass murderer, great job. More often than not, people flee over the dumbest things. Also “previously leo”.
i don’t want to second guess the leo people for what they did and i understand people have opinion’s i just don’t understand why a road block wasn’t set up on hwy. 97 as long as it is surely the leo. could have ended this quicker
leo, i made the comment about defunding the police. i was being facetious about someone saying “another over zealous LEO.” Sometimes people cannot or do not read between the lines. the man broke the law by leaving keys in the truck, would the other man have stolen the truck if no keys? one was a possibly a silly mistake the other deliberately breaking the law. the leos were in the right and i hope, with our support they continue to do a great job.
I MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHT BUT I AM NEVER LEFT.
Well let’s just say there is a lot of you putting your opinions out there but first and foremost none of you or myself know the whole story about what took place before this gentleman decided to steal this truck. And for those of you on here saying chase should just have been terminated hell if it was your property that was taken would you want us to just pass the guy up and say have a nice day jo let’s be honest hear Leo’s have a hff card job day in and day out everything we do someone is going to find an issue with it dont matter if it all done correctly by tut he book 100% and yes that’s because we are jaded because of a few decided to be stupid letting the power we carry go to thier heads and forget we are out there to serve and protect the community we serve but that is a small % so stop putting Leo’s under a microscope for everything that is done and remember we are human and 99.9% of the time there is only a split moment we have to make a life changing decision and we have families to and when someone has to take another’s life that is something we must live with for the rest of ours. Not like going to war where you never really have worry about that other person most of the time you have to go to that same area time and time again because you work and live in the as t community. So let’s all just take a moment and reflect on the great job those Leo’s done keeping yours our community and loved ones safe. A bad guy is a bad guy some you can reach and change and others dont care about themselves or anyone else or thier property only out to cause problems I’m sure this gentleman’s family is very use to him being involved with police sorry for thier loss but thanks brothers in blue for doing your job from all departments involved proudly I served and stand behind those who serve a wear the badge and honor the code.
I know the owner of this truck personally and he is a small business owner in Bay Minette that works everyday to support his to boys. With that being said some of you on here post stuff that make you look like pure idiots. I’ll list them so you’ll know who you are.
1- Defund the police (for doing what they’re trained to do. If that’s how you truly feel when you need them. Remember the defund comment and don’t call them)
2- Insurance probably won’t pay because he broke the law ( breaking news he’s not even filing it on his insurance)
3- You hope they give him a big ticket like he deserves (yeah he deserved a ticket because I’m sure he woke up Saturday morning and said I’ll leave my keys on the console of my truck so some thief can steal it today)
Some people should think about things and ask themselves what if this happened to me before they post stupid comments. I hate someone lost their life and someone lost their only way of going but when people make bad decisions in life they usually end up with bad consequences. Just my opinion
This was a horrible thing that happened, who can say that when you live in a rural area and go to a certain store and everyone knows you, that you have not left your keys in the car and even a child. Some people need to look in the mirror before casting the stones! The bottom line is DON’T TAKE WHAT DON’T BELONG TO YOU!!!!,
Irritated by Ignorance and StraightShooter – You did not read my comment just something in your head.
No I am not OK with thieves. We have locks because thieves exist.
I just want everyone, especially those who think leaving keys in a vehicle is fine, to be more careful. Thieves take advantage of the careless. Because they care less for being safe than the inconvenience of being careful. Most thieves are lazy. Please at least make it hard on the thief. People hurt or killed during a chase are angry with the thief but also the person who made it even possible.
Wow, “Irritated by Ignorance”, your logic is disturbing. Please take your own advice.
REGARDING:
“Your negative comments are uncalled for! GET A LIFE!”
Just for the record, wasn’t THAT a negative comment?
As sad as it is that young mas actions cost him his life its also sad that people are blaming the Police FOR DOING THEIR JOB. Yes, the owner left his in the vehicle (where? We dont know or do it relevant) Fact isms, this fella stole the vehicle and caused all of this. Big thanks to the LEOs who DID THEIR JOB. Thankful OUR GOD kept them and the public safe in so many instances where others could of perished through this 50+ mile pursuit. Prayers for the deceased family as they try and figure out why he did this.
Just curious here but how many of you that are putting blame on the owner of truck would be putting the same blame if it was your vehicle stolen?? Now I know its a law that your not to leave keys in your vehicle but honestly how many of us have forgot to grab them out at different times? I for one have. However just because the keys were left does not give anyone a right to take what is not theres… If you take your lunch to work and put it in front on top shelf of refrigerator and someone eats it for example its still wrong and still stolen from someone because it didnt belong to that person…. taking keys out of vechile or locking your doors or any precautions you take to keep someone out your stuff or from stealing it only keeps the honest being honest. A thief is gonna be a dang thief. My condolences to the family of the person killed, and to owner of truck it was yours sir and weather you left your keys in it or not noone had a right to take what wasnt theirs…
“Mic Hall” Using your logic, if you forget to lock your house doors when you leave. Your ok with thieves stealing your stuff because you left the doors unlocked?
To Mr. Harris
Did you forget that the suspect tried repeatedly to hit and kill the officers? Until anyone of you are behind the wheel of a patrol car and know what it feels like when someone is trying to hurt you, or worse, Think before you make a comment. Some also forget that these officers have wives, kids, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers that love them also. We live in a country that allows people to say how we feel and agree to disagree. That said, don’t steal and try to kill someone and you won’t have to worry about running off the road and hitting a tree.
REGARDING:
“he did leave the keys in the car, which is illegal”
Leaving keys SOMEWHERE in a car is not illegal.
Leaving keys in the ignition IS illegal.
Which did he do?
How do you know?
Do you know?
You don’t know, do you?
It breaks my heart to look at 99.9 of these comments. So much hate and finger pointing! Sad! A man made a bad decision..he stole a truck!! He is now dead! Your negative comments are uncalled for! GET A LIFE!
@ “Randy Jones” (?)
Randy, you have the wrong jurisdiction, and if they had ” ran the tag number,” who do you think the registration would come back to? They already had the tag number.
Mr. Harris, it sounds like you need to move to Portland and join the rest of the idiots who hate policemen and condone violence. The entire chase would not have happened if the guy had not stolen the truck in the first place. The officers who give chase are only following orders from their superiors. When told to back off, they do, and there are many instances where they do end pursuit.. This guy exacerbated the situation by continuing to flee into a residential neighborhood.
I feel sorry for the family. This is probably not the first time the guy has caused grief and suffering to his family. Fortunately no innocent people were injured. As far as the truck theif is concerned he chose his own demise.
REGARDING:
“Who is most at fault here….the child who found the weapon, or the person who left the weapon out for the child to find? Same difference?”
Not quite.
Children are not expected to act like adults.
Adults ARE expected to act like adults.
(They often don’t, but that’s a different matter.)
We don’t actually know at this time if the child did it or how the gun was gotten to. Some criminal may even have tossed it after some other crime. Anything is guesswork other than the fact that somebody had a loaded gun.
We do know how the adult (well, they called him a man) got the truck — he stole it. We know how it wrecked — he wrecked it after deciding to endanger the life of everyone he passed or met.
Chase all violaters regardless of speed and crime. Read the facts on the Orlando recent double murder with a baseball bat. Police refused to stop the guy cause his high speed. He went on and killed two and injured 3rd just shortly afterwards.
William Harris, how many times have you been to jail? You’re a dumas.
To all you nay sayers; You would have LEO’s let every criminal go that drives away quickly. If they adopted that as a blanket policy, criminals would never stop for the police. I would automatically suspect that this idiot had committed some very serious crimes to be making such a serious attempt to escape. Good Job LEO’s
They were chasing him like he had just murdered someone’s family, it was a car theft ,what if someone’s kid had ran after a ball or someone would’ve backed out of a driveway or something? Most authorities do not engage in these High speed Chase’s for such a frickin trivial Matter give me a frickin break,they could’ve called in a chopper to follow him backed off and he would have probably abandoned the truck and the guy that had it stolen from him would have had a complete truck back,if my wife or kid would’ve gotten hit by these frickin morons I would’ve sued their ass into Oblivion, of course the taxpayer would have had to pay for it since they have that acquired immunity crap
@Mic Hall and any other ignorant commenter…
Blaming the victim of this crime, the owner of the truck, is like blaming a victim of rape for wearing a short skirt.
Such ignorant comments really make me worry about the future of this country… Please do not procreate and pass your ignorance onto another generation…
I have zero sympathy for the suspect. None. Did the owner use the best judgment in leaving the keys in the truck? No. But that didn’t give the suspect the right to hop in and steal it, much less leading law enforcement through a very long pursuit from Bay Minette to Atmore, then down 97 to Cottage Hill, and then down the areas east of 95, just a few miles where the moron would meet his end, not to mention destroying someone else’s property. So no sympathy here. Law Enforcement did a good job. The suspect intentionally hit them more than once. Sorry for his family but not for him. Period
Well, I support LEO 100%. We show our support by buying their meal(s) anytime we can. That being said, I’m as far from Liberal as a person can be and think LEO was wrong. I could care less about the thief, my concern is for the potential victims over the course of 60 miles all for a vehicle. @esc co leo, what do you mean who would get the vehicle back ? Chances are, the truck would’ve been found in better condition had they not chased the guy. In most instances, it doesn’t end well for the owners vehicle when Leo gives chase so….. And to put people at risk for 60 miles for GTA and all the other charges arising from the same act just isn’t worth it. Now the owner is in the same position he was in before chase, making a claim with his insurance that may barely pay the truck off if he’s lucky and raised insurance rates. Had you let the guy go, chances are you’d have found the truck abandoned but still intact. I think due to where the chase went, this is one of two brothers you’ve been trying to get for some time and you suspect it. Even still, not worth the 60 miles of dangerous speeds where someone could have been killed who is innocent. Had that happened, nobody would be held accountable. Then your comment would be, “We were just doing our job”.
With all this new technology, there should be a way to shut down the newer vehicles. I am not for all this new technology in vehicles but in this case if the police have methods to shut down vehicles safely, car thefts would end better. FYI..just my opinion….this could have been avoided if the keys were not in the vehicle. I lockemy doors everytime I get out of it. The thief met the demise of his choice.
i wonder since he did leave the keys in the car, which is illegal, if the insurance company will pay . good luck to him, it may be a fight.
Playing “devil’s advocate” here. There was a tragic shooting of a small child in Pensacola yesterday. Early investigation leads another child could possibly be the shooter. Who is most at fault here….the child who found the weapon, or the person who left the weapon out for the child to find? Same difference?
It’s nice to see all the comments that they you know just tear up everybody but let’s think about it thank God nobody innocent was hurt and thank God that the police department was it hurt. I’m sorry that the guy lost his life but guess what he chose that path I agree but really dies the man is dead he belongs to somebody somebody may I actually care for the person saying that it could have been their child or their brother and it’s devastating that he lost his life
I don’t agree with many here. YOU made it easy to steal. YOU thought it would be inconvenient to take the keys with you. YOU did not think locking the car was worth the extra time.
Simple rules: Take your keys. Lock your doors.
All this could be fixed if all insurance companies stopped paying if you make it easy for someone to steal your vehicle and local governments charged the person with willful neglect which includes some of the cost of the damage done.
I have NO sympathy for people who leave cars running at stores or keys in the ignition because it’s inconvenient to take the keys and lock the door.
Problem solved,, criminal killed himself.
All you people that want to withdraw funding from law enforcement agencies then next time you need one please don’t call them when in need.
If the owner was still using ONSTAR they could have shut the truck off and ended the chase.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
“During the vehicle pursuit the driver of the stolen vehicle struck two Bay Minette Police cars multiple times intentionally” & “Witnesses said the driver then turned around and headed directly toward an struck a Bay Minette officer’s Tahoe” so that along with stealing the vehicle, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding and more probably justified the chase… Sorry he lost his life but sadly HIS CHOICES are what will cause his family & friends to have to deal with the loss of his life.
I just knew by all of the cop cars blew through the intersection at Becks Lake and Hwy 29 that what ever it was had to be something God awful.
Something so Horrendous that justified 15 police cars to do 100 through construction and Dump Trucks, Log Trucks, UPS and Fed Ex doing deliveries at one of the busiest intersection where residents who are walking across this intersection hourly. Then we here it was a stolen truck.
Dear “Shaking My Head” ,
THANK YOU!
My thoughts exactly.
“During the vehicle pursuit the driver of the stolen vehicle struck two Bay Minette Police cars multiple times intentionally” & “Witnesses said the driver then turned around and headed directly toward an struck a Bay Minette officer’s Tahoe” along with stealing the vehicle, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding and more that probably justified the chase… Sorry he lost his life but sadly HIS CHOICES are what will cause his family & friends to have to deal with the loss of his life.
Ok then all you that want to defund the cops let’s go ahead and do it. Then the citizens around here can properly treat the crime appropriately. So I believe you all defunders will like the cops more than the citizens brand of justice.
It was taught to most of us that you’re not supposed to steal no matter what. If it doesn’t belong to you leave it alone
Here is a novel idea…. compliments to the LEOs for their professionalism during this chase which kept the Public safe.
Your not supposed to steal ! If it ain’t yours don’t touch it no matter what
My hat is off the the men and women who protect us everyday! When there is a felony involved, I am glad that the officers gave chase and kept the pressure on the suspect. We never know if the suspect has a weapon or a vendetta. So sorry for the family of the suspect but when you choose to break the law, then you have to face the consequences. Most parents instill this in us as children. It is a choice to do wrong and the suspect chose WRONG!
I am a supporter of our police 100%. i support President Trump and i am retired military. i stand at attention for my Flag. The only one I kneel for is Jesus my Lord and Savior. my comment was really to bring attention to someone that said “Another example of over zealous LEO. ” i see my comment was taken down. i hope this one stays and i am sorry for anyone that i may have upset.
I may not always be right, but i am never left.
REGARDING:
“In Alabama it is illegal to leave your vehicle unattended. 32-5A-50.”
My vehicles are unattended right now. They are outside the house. I am inside the house.
The actual wording is: “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.”
So we are allowed to leave them unattended, just with restrictions as to how. I imagine that was implied but wanted to be sure it was stated.
While on the subject Section 32-5A-4 says: “No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer or fireman invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic.”
As in stop when they say, even if you are in a stolen vehicle. (Whodathunkit?)
David for self-driving cars
Some of you commenting about this are just a special kind of stupid. The police didn’t steal a car. They didn’t make this moron flee. It doesn’t matter if the keys were left in or not. You don’t have the right to take someone else’s property just because you want to.
Whether he was being chased or not doesn’t matter. When you steal a vehicle (against the law by the way) and then you decided to flee from the police (also against the law), bad things are going to happen.
The ones calling for defunding the police, sit down and STHU. If you don’t break law, you got nothing to worry about.
I’m sorry but it’s not the truck owners fault,nor is it the police fault, Noone made him stole it, I do feel sorry for the family, I back the blue
Seriously take all that nonsense back to New York or Minneapolis where ever your from its free speech but comments like yours do not get to far in the South.Must be a snowbird?Thats one of the most ridiculous statements I’ve read in a long time must be new at this.Thanks to the Law Enforcement for doing what you get paid to do Catch Criminals!
DT! That would be a grief counselor you would call.
CONCERNING:
“A thief deserves 10x worse than what this criminal got. Wake up people”
Just as a technical matter, how do you do ten times worse than dead? God decides afterward and that isn’t looking good either.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
The criminal punished himself. He picked his crime. He picked his victim, the one to prey on. He decided what to do every step of the way. He endangered others with each action he took. Quite self-centered. An innocent man lost his truck. A guilty man threw away his life.
We need better ways to stop vehicles driven by criminals. (That would involve more funding or resources for police.) If we develop them, some criminal will figure out a way to commit crimes with them.
David for better people
This life lost was not worth this chase. I don’t care that he stole the truck. Now some mother/father, spouse, children are hurting. I just see this as senseless. Maybe the truck could have been tracked via OnStar. We will never know now.
So the keys must have magical powers which renders people incapable of not stealing someone else’s vehicle…
Surely the keys are to blame.
Hope it was worth it for the crook…
Dumb Dumb Dumb, another one bites the dust
@ Stumped you should check your facts
It is not against the law to leave your keys in your vehicle. The law is you can not leave your vehicle unattended while running or the keys in the ignition while unattended. No where does it say you can’t leave your keys in it. The criminal got what he deserved. God bless America and our police force!
jerry on August 1st, 2020 1:01 pm
Another example of over zealous LEO.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY WE MUST DEFUND THE POLICE.
Defund the police? WOW! I guess when someone is breaking into your home, holding a gun to your head, who you gonna call? Or, someone T bones you at an intersection and you are hurt bad, who you gonna call? Or someone has a road rage, and shoots at you, hitting you, not killing you, but you have some major injuries, who you gonna call? WOW!! I don’t know about you, but I respect the police, and not all of them are bad. BTW, some insurance companies will not cover your vehicle if it’s stolen if you leave the keys in it.
The trash has been taken out. Good job LEO
Glad they didn’t kill any innocent people on the streets.
@Jerry I pray you and your family don’t ever need the police since you don’t like them & want them defunded. They are just doing their job. Maybe idiots and low lifes should not take what doesn’t belong to them. Ya think?
jerry on August 1st, 2020 1:01 pm
Another example of over zealous LEO.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY WE MUST DEFUND THE POLICE.
Jerry really? Just put yourself on the do not respond list.. Wouldn’t won’t to waste time and money where your not welcome.
JERRY, U must live in Portland or Seattle. If not feel free to move there, you will fit right in.
Jerry really?!!!!!!
The owner of the vehicle should be charged as well for leaving the keys in the vehicle like an idiot
How come some of yall are justifying the criminal in this case and directing all the wrong doings to the truck owner? A thief deserves 10x worse than what this criminal got. Wake up people
It’s the owner of the vehicle who’s at fault here. If those keys were never left in that vehicle, that person would still be alive. Same goes for people who leave guns in their vehicles….
@”Eric Hanes”, you spelled his name wrong. Nice try, though.
@Jerry……you’d be moaning if the law didn’t try to get your truck back too, so shut up Pelosi mouth!!!!
We all make mistakes, we all forget at times. The owner of the truck worked hard to afford it. I believe it’s punishment enough to lose his new vehicle. People can be so hateful.
If you gonna be stupid you better be tough
Defund the police? Overzealous LEO’s? Truck owner should get a ticket? HERE is the problem this country is facing right now. How about “the thief shouldn’t have stolen the mans truck”? It starts there and anything less is making an excuse for bad decisions. The fact I park my vehicle in front of a convenience store with the keys in it does NOT give you an open invitation to leave in it! You people have lost your ever-lovin’ MINDS! Karma did our tax dollars a favor today.
@Jerry. That’s right, the criminal is the victim.
Looks like a win for the good guys.
Take your keys out of the ignition, wear your seat belt, wear a mask…just simple little rules.
Suicide mission!
Jerry you must be kidding me! Over zealous LEO ! Goodness gracious You say another example of why we should defund! Do you realize you are telling everyone how STUPID you are! Good Lord man!
Those that choose to steal had all the options to NOT steal.
The police have a duty to apprehend the offending suspect.
100% of the blame for ANYTHING that happened is on the CRIMINAL
.to those yapping about “overzealous…”
But have a feeling those that make overzealous claims also know what its like to have handcuffs on and been in the back of a patrol car…
To the fool that left your keys in truck.. You must have wanted it STOLEN… See it all time running car with purse or full of tools… People are to complacent or …
Good job aleast no body else got hurt and folks talking about defunding police Hats off to officer’s doing great job Thank y’all for ur services
I see the liberals showed up to post today. The driver had his chance. He could have done any of the following:
1. Not steal a truck.
2. Steal a truck but pull over when stopped and surrender.
3. Simple compliance goes a long way way keeping you alive.
Instead, he stole a truck, fled and eluded police, committed reckless driving, aggravated battery on a LEO by crashing into them while they were trying to stop him, and he crashed himself while committing multiple felony’s. Cops did their jobs in my opinion. Good job cops. Liberals, please move back to you meca on the west coast.
Defund the police over THIS?
The police chased a car their. Not a peaceful protester, not a person minding their own business. A criminal. Who would have stopped this guy and gotten the stolen truck back if it weren’t for the police?
Who cares if the owners keys were in the truck! No one has the right to open the door up on someone’s vehicle.. Hope the poor tree makes it!
First….keys in the truck that’s okay….what not okay is the entitlement of the
thief thinking it’s okay to steal. The thief is wrong not the keys left in the truck.
Second…LEO’s chasing the thief…that’s okay…what is not okay is the entitlement of the thief thinking he can out run the LEO’s and get away. The
Thief should not have stole the truck, therefore he would not have been chased. What is wrong with some people now is they want to blame the innocent instead of the guilty. The thief put himself in the situation. A man would be hung if he stole a horse back in the day. You say that would be inhumane, I say it’s justified punishment. Stop blaming the guy who left his keys in the vehicle and the LEO’s who tried to stop him, the thief is the blame…he could have stopped miles and miles before he came to an ultimate karma ending.
I get a check for my video footage
Shut up, Jerry.
I’m gonna have to agree with Safebear on this one. I support the police 100% but a high speed chase for that many miles is just freaking dangerous! Way too many innocent people are out on the roads. This puts too many lives in danger. They have a description of the truck. Come up with a new plan!!
South bound lanes are still closed they are diverting traffic down Tate school Road and by the Tom Thumb!!!
They were behind a few other cars when they passed my house on Hwy 31. The guy in the truck was racing the engine I’m assuming getting ready to pass the slower cars. Definitely dangerous, he could have hit an innocent person head on.
People make me angry sometimes.
No, the man shouldn’t have left his keys in the truck, bot he was right there near it. Does that make it right for that idiot to steal it??? NO..!!!!
LEOS face danger everyday…that jerk was driving like a crazy man, wouldn’t stop, had stolen the truck…so many variables..!!!!
They did their job and he only died because of HIS actions, not THEIRS…!!!!!!
THANK GOD NOONE ELSE WAS HARMED..!!!!
PEOPLE… learn RESPECT and act RESPONSIBLY…!!!!
Owner also may have left his truck running while he was in the store (see it happen all the time – especially at convenience stores), which may have attracted the thief, only the owner knows. Hard to admit considering how dumb that is! Family of deceased may even try some civil legal action.
To Stumped, just why should anyone have to lock their stuff up on their property? That’s how criminals victimize their victims twice by saying it’s the person’s fault for not locking up, when in reality they could’ve just not trespassed, stolen or any other law that was broken. No thats the criminals fault. I’m wondering if they’re following up over in Bay Minette to see if anything else happened for the theft or if the person decided to just steal that truck. Im also wondering why the cops that was right behind couldn’t get around him, I mean they were already putting themselves in harms way in all ways but one the person in the truck could’ve break checked
but by all means it is not the truck owners fault just because he stopped at a conveniecet store. Will be praying for the damage that is left behind for all involved including his family. Anybody can change until they’re gone.
I am floored at some of these comments, blameing Leo’s and wanting the owner of the truck to get a ticket. REALLY?!
That truck should not have been stolen even if it had been left running and the door open. It WAS STOLEN. By A
THIEF / CRIMINAL..!! This is a fine example if why taxes SHOULD continue to fund the police..
This is so sad! The comments are sad! In our area in normal conditions we have been free and completely comfortable leaving our keys in our vehicles. Not the same anymore. So now we are aware that the victims will get the blame. The flip side is that young person who just died was someone’s Son!
And family member. So sad on both sides! So I’m just going to say I am praying for both The victim of the theft. And the one who died and his family. God have mercy on us all….
I love a happy ending! Good news is we don’t have to feed and house this loser…..
Safebear ,are u saying that this was Leo’s doings? I am not one to defend law enforcement bc I know first hand, how crooked they can be. But this guy STOLE that truck. A nice, very expensive truck.What were they supposed to do? LET HIM JUST HAVE IT??!? Just bc it was insured
( hopefully), is not a victimless crime.! That thief did THIS! He stole a truck and led the chase all those miles.. NOT LEOS! U must be a criminal too, if u think the Leo’s were in anyway , at fault here.
Defund the police is an idiotic statement when some body steals you vehicle who ya gonna call ghost busters or a social worker ?
“The keys were in the vehicle.” Geez I wonder how they stole it.
Another thief’s luck ran out .The young man probably worked hard to purchase what was a nice looking vehicle and it’s ashamed a sorry individual ruined all that in a short period of time.
Good glad that maniac fool is off the road. He was driving like a crazy lunatic fool.
@SAFEBEAR another zealous LEO? what you taking about? They tried to stop him without incident…but the guy trying to run decided to take in a tree… in my opinion they should have taken him out before Atmore even had the chance to get involved.
In Alabama it is illegal to leave your vehicle unattended. 32-5A-50. Florida has the same thing FSS 316.1975. I hate to see a guy’s truck gets stolen but it appears by state law that he was in the wrong. I hope they wrote him the ticket he deserves. Most vehicles are stolen from gas stations or from their house where people leave their keys in their vehicle.
Crashed right in front of me while I was working out at the gym!!
I know this guy was a criminal but nobody’s life was put at risk until a high speed chase lasting this long and this many miles could have killed others. Was this really necessary? Another example of over zealous LEO.
One thing that can be said about pursuing criminals in Alabama, police there do not mess around. Note to self – To avoid having vehicle stolen, don’t leave the keys in it.