From Samson Police Chief In Regards To Monday Nights Chase and Arrest

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 7275

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Apr 02 2019 1:37 PM

SAMSON AL POLICE DEPARTMENT 

    PRESS RELEASE       4/2/19

On 4/1/19 at approximately 730PM patrol Officer Stevens was on patrol near Main Street and Columbus Holley Road and noticed a vehicle take a left turn in the wrong lane and nearly striking a vehicle coming into town a the stop sign at Columbus Holley Road.

Officer Stevens got behind suspect vehicle and the vehicle took off. Officer Stevens activated his lights and siren and pursued said vehicle down Columbus Holley Road. Officer Stevens called out 10-100 and got to the stop sign on Columbus Holley Road and 2 people jumped out of the back seat of the suspect vehicle.

As the vehicles made a right turn on Highway 153 South Office Stevens got his vehicle beside suspect vehicle and suspect vehicle struck Officer Stevens’ vehicle and Officer Stevens forced the vehicle in the ditch.

The suspect Zachary Owens pushed a 11 year old female front seat passenger out and fled on foot.

After a short foot chase Officer Stevens caught up to suspect and he was placed under arrest.

Sgt. Shehee came to the scene and placed Owens in the backseat of his patrol unit. Sgt. Shehee and Officer Stevens searched for items being thrown by Owens while a reserve Officer stayed with Owens. Controlled substances were found on Owens person and Sgt. Shehee drove his vehicle to the scene of the wreck.

As Chief I had arrived on scene and talked to Owens in the back seat. Owens was talking to me and Sgt Shehee and Officer Stevens walked down the highway looking for the people who fled on foot and for any items tossed out of the vehicle.

Myself ( Chief ) and the reserve Officer were standing outside Sgt. Shehee’s vehicle and apparently Owens had got his handcuffs form behind his back to the front and got in the front seat and took off on the patrol vehicle.

Owens had told me the 11 year old lived on Crockett Road so I pursued him to that area. I lost sight of the patrol vehicle and got to Barker Mill Road/Crockett Road intersection and saw the patrol vehicle wrecked in the ditch. Owens had fled on foot again.

I called for the Covington County dog team to assist in finding Owens. The Covington County Dog Team, Covington County Deputies, Geneva County Deputies, Alabama State Trooper and Kinston PD assisted and after about a hour he was tracked and arrested.

I had went to the 11 Year olds home and interviewed her with her parent. The 11 year old stated that she was ok and that one of the people in the back seat let her use their phone to call her mom and her mom came and picked her up beside the road and brought her home.

The 11 year old stated that she was very scared but was unharmed.

 At this time Owens is being charge with Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, Theft of Property 1St, Reckless Endangerment, DUI, Resisting Arrest, and Escape 3rd.

Other parties in the vehicle have been identified and warrants are being obtained for their arrest.

 

Chief Jimmy Hill, Samson Police Department

 

 

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