BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Earlier this afternoon an off-duty Prattville officer was fired upon in his personal vehicle during an apparent road rage incident. This occurred near Walgreen’s in Prattville.
The officer notified Prattville Police and the suspect vehicle fled, beginning a pursuit from Autauga to Chilton County along I-65 with multiple area departments involved.
The suspect vehicle encountered spike strips at the Verbena exit on Interstate 65 and around the 205 mile marker the vehicle stopped. However, the male subject inside initially failed to exit the vehicle. He was surrounded by multiple officers. The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office deployed gas canisters into the vehicle and the subject is now in custody. His identity has not yet been released.
While the off-duty Prattville officer’s vehicle was struck by a projectile, he was not injured. No other officers involved reported any injuries.
According to Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson, the off-duty officer reported what appeared to be a rifle fired from the vehicle in the initial encounter.
Agencies assisting include Millbrook Police Department, Clanton Police Department, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, Chilton County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Troopers.
The Prattville Police Department will be issuing a press release, and we will update this article with official information at this time. We are just very thankful there are no reported injuries in this incident, and the suspect is in custody. Thompson said he expects the suspect will face a multitude of charges.
Official Release from Chief Mark Thompson:
At approximately 1:30 p.m. in the area of Main Street and Memorial Drive, an off-duty officer reported a road rage incident where a subject pointed what appeared to be a rifle at him.
A projectile struck his vehicle.
A Prattville Police Department pursuit was initiated with the subject and with the assistance of the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, ALEA, Clanton PD, and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department. Spikes were placed on I-65 near Exit 205 in Chilton County.
The vehicle came to a stop and then the subject barricaded himself in the vehicle. He was threatening to harm himself. Units were able to place the subject into custody and he is now being transported to Baptist South for self inflicted, non life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured during this incident.
Officers are still on the scene conducting an active investigation. Please continue to avoid this area of I-65 and take an alternate route.
