Joshua Thomas, of Prattville, Jailed after High Speed Pursuit, Felony Drug Arrest; Had Multiple Warrants

BY CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON

MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT

EDITOR’S NOTE: A MUGSHOT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE, SO THE PHOTO IS FROM THE SUSPECT’S DRIVER’S LICENSE PHOTO.

On October 21, 2019, at approximately 12:42 a.m., Millbrook police officers attempted to stop a vehicle having observed suspicious activity in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The vehicle refused to stop, accelerating and continuing to I-65. The vehicle, a 2006 Buick Lacrosse, turned southbound on I-65 continuing towards Montgomery at speeds up to 100 mph. It appears that the suspect threw property from the vehicle during the pursuit. The vehicle continued into Montgomery, exiting I-65 at West Edgemont Ave. The pursuit terminated in the 3000 block of Oak Street. The offender fled a short distance once the vehicle stopped. One of the pursuing officers deployed a less lethal force option, which ended the foot pursuit. The offender resisted officer’s efforts to take him into custody. Officers were able to take the offender into custody using minimal force.

The offender, later identified as Joshua S. Thomas, a 28-year-old Prattville resident, was placed under arrest being charged with Attempting to Elude, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Mischief 3^rd Degree and Resisting Arrest. Thomas is also wanted on an outstanding felony drug possession warrant held by the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, as well as an outstanding Failure to Appear warrant held by this agency. Thomas was transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he is being held without bond pending warrants being obtained and served.

We are extremely fortunate that no one was injured as a result of this offender’s disregard for his own safety and the safety of everyone that was in his path this morning. According to our officers, this individual had no intention on stopping. He reached speeds up to 100 mile per hour and was driving in a reckless manner. At some point his vehicle apparently overheated and he had no choice but to slow down and eventually stop because his vehicle would no longer perform. When he finally stopped he fled on foot, failing to put his vehicle in park, which caused his vehicle to roll backwards, damaging one of our patrol units. Our officers were able to detain him after a brief foot chase, using minimal force. Fortunately neither the officers nor the offender received any injuries as a result.

Apparently this was not the offender’s first brush with law enforcement but maybe between this incident and what he apparently faces when he’s dealt with our charges, he’ll have some time to contemplate his choices while he deals with the consequences. It is our intent to prosecute him to the fullest extent, not to mention hold him accountable for damaging city property. Hopefully people will learn that you don’t come into our city to commit crimes and run back down the interstate. It simply doesn’t work like that. Our officers do an outstanding job apprehending these offenders and I’m extremely proud of them.