Suspect In Multiple Carjackings Shot After Trying To Run Over Officer North Of Atmore (With Photo Gallery)

January 8, 2021

FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.

A suspect tied to multiple carjackings across south Alabama was shot by a Poarch Creek Police officer Friday morning north of Atmore, according to one Alabama police department.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Creek Travel Plaza located at I-65 and Jacks Springs Road, about a mile from the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation.

For a photo gallery, click here.

The man was shot by a Poarch Creek Tribal Police officer and transported to an area hospital for treatment. An update on the suspect’s condition has not been provided. No officers were injured.

According to Wetumpka (AL) Assistant Police Chief Earl Reeves, their first contact with the man was during suspicious persons call at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. The man told police officers he had just been discharged from a hospital and was waiting on a ride. Police said his story was verified, and he was told not to panhandle or harass anyone.

At 5:41 a man driving a Nissan Armada left his vehicle running as he went inside the Pace Car Gas Station in Wetumpka. The suspect jumped in and drove away with an assault rifle that had been left in the vehicle, according to AL.com.

The suspect took the Armada to Evergreen where it was discovered abandoned at 10:40 p.m. but the assault rifle was missing.. The suspect then reportedly then took another vehicle at gunpoint and drove to north to Greenville, Alabama.

The suspect then carjacked a vehicle at a gas station in Greenville near I-65, according to Greenville Police Chief Justin Lovvorn. He then carjacked another vehicle at a Murphy gas station at the Greenville Walmart, also near I-65.

Lovvorn said Greenville Police pinged the location of vehicle and discovered it was near Atmore. Poarch Creek Police located the vehicle in the Creek Travel Plaza parking lot, where the suspected attempted to run over the officer, according to Greenville Police. The Poarch officer then fired at the suspect.

“After being approached by uniformed officers and marked patrol vehicles, an altercation ensued forcing officers to discharge their firearms,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said.

A Chevrolet vehicle with the windows shot out was directly in front of the truck stop’s diner.  Multiple shell casings could be seen in the parking lot, and about a dozen bullet holes were in the windows of the diner.

An assault-style rifle was removed from the scene by the SBI.

Special agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are investigating the officer involved shooting. SBI said the results of their investigation will be turned over to the Escambia County (AL) District Attorney’s Office for review.

The Creek Travel Plaza is owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, but is not located on the reservation.

The suspect’s name has not been released. Further details will be posted when they are made available.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

15 Responses to “Suspect In Multiple Carjackings Shot After Trying To Run Over Officer North Of Atmore (With Photo Gallery)”

  1. A mom on January 11th, 2021 5:40 am

    Big Red, someone mentioned it in one of the comments.

  2. Big red on January 10th, 2021 11:04 pm

    @ a mom. Where in this story you find something about an “off duty cop car being stolen”? I also didn’t see Paul saying anything about an off duty cop. He only mentioned about asking LEO about dealing with these problems which is true. . Read the article please.

  3. A mom on January 10th, 2021 11:33 am

    Paul, how did the off duty cops car get stolen? This type of stuff didn’t happen in Mr. Rogers neighborhood.

  4. Tessa on January 10th, 2021 9:15 am

    Very proud of the Poarch Creek Officers! What could have turned out very different, was stopped in its tracks. Great job to the officer that spotted the vehicle and made the call for back up! Great job to all involved! I back the BLUE!

  5. SueB on January 9th, 2021 9:32 am

    Proud of each and every Poarch Creek Police officer.

  6. Paul on January 9th, 2021 8:24 am

    I didn’t justify the criminal. I’m just tired of people thinking we live in Mr.Rogers neighborhood. If you think it’s okay to leave a weapon in a running unlocked vehicle, you’re the problem. Ask any L.E.O. who has to deal with these thugs what their thoughts on this are.

  7. Law for Life on January 8th, 2021 10:42 pm

    @ Paul and Me.. right on. My thoughts as Forrest Gump says stupid is as stupid does…. never leave vehicle unlocked most of all with a weapon…. It may come back and bite your butt…

  8. A mom on January 8th, 2021 7:46 pm

    Paul, whether you realize it or not, you are victimizing the victim again. That’s whats wrong with criminals, they’re never in the wrong with some people. Lay the blame where it should lay,, on the carjacker. The carjacker didn’t have to take that vehicle or that rifle. The person who left it in the vehicle unfortunately learned a lesson that shouldn’t have had to happen. You , my friend & others that do take up for the criminals and might enable need to learn & teach the Cowboy Rule. What’s that? Its where if something doesn’t belong to you, don’t take it.

  9. Paul on January 8th, 2021 5:09 pm

    They should keep the rifle and not let the one who left it in an unlocked running vehicle ever own a gun again. They give responsible gun owners a bad name. They’re enabling criminals.

  10. me on January 8th, 2021 4:53 pm

    So, who would leave their car unlocked and running with an assault rifle in it ??
    Just saying….

  11. Merchant on January 8th, 2021 3:40 pm

    Play stupid games win stupid prizes.. Thats what happens when you put an officer’s life in danger..

  12. Bama on January 8th, 2021 3:39 pm

    Certainly glad no one in the diner was hit. Lots of bullet holes in the window.

  13. Kane on January 8th, 2021 3:15 pm

    Don’t be a thug if you can’t take a slug

  14. JTV on January 8th, 2021 2:14 pm

    Kudos Poarch Creek Tribal Police taking the trash out.

  15. I Back The Blue on January 8th, 2021 1:22 pm

    Ran up on the wrong cops car huh?
    11th Commandment : Thou shalt not steal an off duty cops car.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News