BY SARAH STEPHENS, OWNER/EDITOR EAN
Two unrelated high-speed pursuits in Elmore County within two days ended in Millbrook Jan. 30 and 31st.
In the first pursuit in the early morning of Jan. 30, we have confirmed that the driver is identified as Robert Burnette, 29, who officials confirmed shot himself during the pursuit which caused him to wreck the vehicle on Hwy. 14 in the area of Main Street Urgent Care. Burnette was pronounced dead at the scene. Wetumpka Assistant Police Chief Ed Reeves said that Elmore County Coroner Brad Linville confirmed the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound while Burnette was being pursued by officers from his department, as well as Elmore County and Millbrook Police.
The chase began on North Street in Wetumpka after a domestic incident not long after 1 a.m. Jan. 30.
Chief Reeves said Burnette had been in an argument, during which time he tried to take a baby. However, the mother was able to get the child back before Burnette left in his vehicle, being pursued by Wetumpka officers. He had reportedly been heard to say he was not going to jail.
Wetumpka officers began the pursuit, assisted by Elmore County deputies. Near the Russell Plant on Hwy. 14, the suspect vehicle hit a Wetumpka unit, but continued traveling towards Millbrook.
Millbrook Police were contacted for assistance and set up along Hwy. 14.
Officers were warned that the suspect was armed with a gun. A Millbrook Officer who was on Hwy. 14 near Walmart saw the suspect vehicle headed west bound and witnessed the vehicle suddenly careen into oncoming traffic colliding with a large pine tree. The officer called for medics, but the suspect in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Burnette was found slumped over a rifle in the vehicle, Chief Reeves said. His body was trapped in the vehicle, and Millbrook Fire Department personnel came to provide extrication.
Traffic along Hwy. 14 near Walmart was shut down for several hours in the wake of the accident.
Just a little less than 24 hours later, Wetumpka Police were called relating to a shoplifting of televisions from Walmart. Chief Reeves said there were four suspects, including two men, a female driver and a 14-year-old male juvenile in a vehicle that left the store, being pursued by Wetumpka officers. Elmore Deputies were assisting as well and called Millbrook when the vehicle was on Hwy. 14 nearing the city.
Millbrook officers set up spike strips at Hwy. 14 and Savarge which were hit by the suspect vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop in the area of Regions Bank on Hwy. 14 with two of the suspects in the vehicle fleeing on foot. They were taken into custody quickly.
“I am extremely proud of all officers involved,” Millbrook Police Chief P.K. Johnson told the EAN. “This is two nights in a row that we have had pursuits come into our city. Our officers have been prepared and worked extremely well with Wetumpka Police and Elmore County Sheriff’s deputies to apprehend these individuals.”
Fortunately no one was injured in this incident, and all officers are safe. A Wetumpka unit was involved in a wreck during the pursuit, when the suspect vehicle hit another vehicle, which then struck the unit. There were no injuries, Chie Reeves said.
“At some point in time, people who commit these crimes need to understand if you choose to flee from law enforcement officers, we work very well with other agencies. And the outcome will be the same. You can run, we will apprehend you and we will make every effort to make sure that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by law enforcement in Elmore County,” Chief Johnson said.
