From: Chief P.K. Johnson
Millbrook Police Department
On Saturday, May 23, 2020, at approximately 4:00 PM, Millbrook police responded to the 4800 block of Paige Hill Drive with regard to a report of a domestic disturbance. Prior to officers arriving on scene the complainant advised that the offender had left the scene in a 2003 GMC 1500 pick-up truck at a high rate of speed. While responding to the area Millbrook police received multiple complaints with regard to a vehicle matching that description driving recklessly in the area, to include a report of that vehicle leaving the roadway, striking a mailbox in the 5000 block of Paige Hill Drive and failing to stop. As police officers were at the scene of the original complaint the suspect vehicle passed by the residence. The offender, having observed officers at the scene, accelerated past the residence running several stop signs in an attempt to avoid officers. The vehicle turned onto Highway 14 and headed eastbound towards a marked Millbrook patrol vehicle that was also eastbound in the 4900 block of Highway 14. The pick-up truck accelerated intentionally ramming the rear bumper of the patrol vehicle, a 2019 Dodge Charger, which left the roadway, up an embankment and into the median. The vehicle continued eastbound on Highway 14 at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour.
Millbrook police pursued the vehicle through Coosada and parts of Elmore via Friendly Pines Road, Mercer Road to Ingram Road, southbound on Ingram Road to Highway 14. The pursuit terminated at Highway 14 and Dan Drive. The offender fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. The officer that was intentionally rammed was treated at the scene by Millbrook fire and rescue personnel and later transported to Prattville Baptist Emergency Room, where he was treated and released with minor injuries.
The offender, later identified as Justin C. Acheson, a 33 year old Millbrook resident, was placed under arrest being charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Criminal Mischief 1st Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, Resisting Arrest and Domestic Violence 3rd Degree. Acheson was transported to the Millbrook Police Department for processing and later placed in the Elmore County Jail, where he remains under a total bond of $116,500.00, of which $100,000.00 must be cash.
I am extremely relieved to report that our officer that was injured yesterday did not receive any serious injuries as a result of this individual’s reckless and intentional action. He’s sore more than anything else, but we are happy that he’ll be able to report back to duty in a couple of days. I’m proud of our officers that responded to this call. They handled themselves in a professional manner under extremely difficult circumstances. The alleged offender was taken into custody without incident and no innocent by-standers were injured as a result of this individual’s reckless behavior. We are extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured or worse. Apparently we lost a fairly new patrol vehicle based on what I observed at the scene. As aggravated as I am about that and how it occurred, I am relieved and thank God that he protected our officer and that he was able to go home to his family. We can repair or replace a vehicle. Our officers are irreplaceable to their families, our department and this community. I’ve had a lot of calls expressing concern and wanting to know that our officer is ok. We certainly appreciate our citizens. They are the best. I guess a lot of people saw the patrol car and understood that our officer could have been seriously injured.
I want to thank the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, the Coosada Police Department and the Elmore County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this case. I want to assure our citizens that this case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent that it can be in our court system. We are familiar with the alleged offender, as he is no stranger law enforcement in Elmore County. It is our intent to see that he doesn’t get an opportunity to engage in this type of behavior for a very long time. There is absolutely no excuse for this type of reckless violence towards law enforcement or anyone for that matter. It’s obvious that the lives of others mean very little to this person, as evident by his actions yesterday. Hopefully we can ensure that he won’t pose a danger to anyone else for quite some time. Our streets are safer without people like him on them.
