From Chief P.K. Johnson
Elmore County
On Friday, January 10, 2025, at approximately 1:50 PM, a Millbrook police officer observed a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo travelling at a high rate of speed, radar indicating the vehicle’s speed at 83 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone, during inclement weather, in the 2600 block of Main Street. The officer immediately activated his emergency equipment and attempted to stop the vehicle, which immediately accelerated, continuing northbound, passing other vehicles. The vehicle continued northbound to the 4100 block of Main Street, at which point it encountered slower moving traffic and finally came to an abrupt stop.
The vehicle’s driver, later identified as Nehemiah J. Newsome, a 21 – year-old Montgomery resident, was immediately detained, later being placed under arrest and charged with felony Attempting to Elude. Newsome was transported to the Millbrook Police Department for processing and was later transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he was turned over to jail staff pending a warrant of arrest being obtained and served.
Chief P.K. Johnson –
It’s my understanding that the alleged offender in this case is employed by the Alabama Department of Corrections, advising our officers after being stopped that he was merely trying to make it to work at the time of the traffic stop, which resulted in his arrest. That said, everyone knows that yesterday was most definitely a foul weather day, with lots of rain and near freezing temperatures. There is never a valid reason to travel in excess of 35 miles per hour of the posted speed limit, particularly with the weather we had yesterday and the traffic volume that we generally experience at that time of day. I think if this young man had it to do over again, he’d have been a little late to work, stopped when the officer signaled him to do so, with the worst case scenario being the receipt of a traffic citation and a fine, if he was found guilty of speeding. As it stands, he faces a much more serious charge in addition to his alleged traffic violations.
Alabama Department of Corrections officials were notified of our contact with their employee and they did respond to the scene to assist our officers with our investigation.
