ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Two suspects are in custody, one from Prattville and the other from Montgomery after an incident at Lowe’s of Prattville this morning. They have been identified as Kevin Andrew Johnson, 43, of Montgomery and Roderick Bernard Harris, 51, of Prattville. Johnson was Incarcerated on Previous Warrants (Assault 3rd and Harassing Communications). Harris was incarcerated on Felony Pending Charges (Theft of Property 3rd – Home Depot)
A witness began videoing the event in the parking lot, as one of the suspects was in a vehicle and unable to get the truck to start. The two officers were outside the vehicle, ordering the suspect to get out of the truck.
Screen shots from video taken by witness Gerald Groves.
FROM PRATTVILLE POLICE CHIEF MARK THOMPSON
PRATTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
On 04-11-2022 at approximately 0930 hours, two Prattville Police Department plain clothes detectives were in Lowe’s on an unrelated matter when they noticed a suspicious suspect in the store place a shopping cart, loaded with power tools valued at over $2,000.00, near the exit of the door and walk away from it. The detectives decided to split up, one watching the suspect and the other going to his vehicle to put on his “Police” vest.
Before the detectives could get into place, they noticed the suspect running out of the door with the shopping cart, being followed by Lowe’s employees. One of the detectives chased the suspect on foot to a truck that was parked on the opposite side of the parking lot while holding up his badge and announcing himself as “Police.”
The other detective got into his unmarked police vehicle, turned on his blue emergency lights and pulled behind the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect unsuccessfully attempted to start his vehicle multiple times in an attempt to flee the scene. One of the detectives attempted to deploy a Taser through a small gap in the window of the suspect’s truck but could not safely deploy the Taser.
The other detective walked to the back of the Police truck and retrieved a bright orange less-lethal shotgun designed to fire bean-bag rounds. The suspect exited his vehicle and fled on foot again to the rear parking lot of Steak-n-Shake where he was caught and taken into custody after a brief struggle. Upon further investigation it was learned the suspects had committed another felony theft at Home Depot just prior to this offense. All stolen property was recovered and Multiple Felony theft charges are pending on the suspect as well as an additional suspect that was inside the vehicle.
The suspect was checked and cleared by medics prior to being transported to the Autauga County Metro Jail on prior unrelated warrants. There were no injuries to the officers or suspects.
This matter remains under investigation and further charges are possible.
