PIKE-COFFEE-DALE COUNTY: Over the weekend RSN covered a chase which came from Pike County into Coffee County and into Dale County. The WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Program ) aircraft intercepted the chase, flying overhead to help keep everyone informed of location, lighting up the vehicle, and a guardian in the sky. While one might out run ground units, out running the guardian in the sky is almost impossible. And the aircraft being able to light up the ground to allow officers clear visions, is tremendous for the law enforcement officers to remain safe.
WASP needs your support. Anyone wishing to donate to help with the expensive maintenance and replacement, make checks payable to WASP and mail in care of Dale County Sheriff Department, 113 W Reynolds St, Ozark, AL 36360. There is non-profit entity established for tax deductible donations. The WASP unit has aided in a number of lost persons missions on land and water saving lives.
This is a great asset to serving and protecting. WASP flies routine patrol in times where data shows crimes are in a pattern of being higher. When chases start or a person runs that aircraft is scrambled in the air. It would be great if multiple agencies each contributed where the aircraft was on duty 24/7/365 with staffed pilots.
ORIGINAL CHASE ARTICLE
PIKE – COFFEE – DALE: 11:17 PM ALEA – Trooper is in pursuit of a vehicle, southbound, from Pike County. Coming into Dale County at 90 Miles per hour. Traffic light.
WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Program ) air unit is in the air responding to report from the air. Will follow chase. Might outrun ground units but hard to outrun from the air view.
11:21 PM Two miles out of Dale County at speeds of 96 miles per hour coming from Brundidge area. Southbound on Highway 231.
THIS DUDE JUST HIT THE WRONG COUNTY – DALE COUNTY
SHERIFF BYNUM AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS DO NOT PLAY
11:22 PM Chase coming up on Highway 123 on Highway 231. Dale County Sheriff unit staging at Highway 231 and 51. Dale County Sheriff Deputy has spike strips.
11:24 PM Passing mile marker 56.
11:25 PM Just passed County 51 on Highway 231. Subject missed spikes. Still southbound on Highway 231.
11:26 PM Speeds of 100 miles per hour.
11:27 PM Passing County Road 11. Vehicle turning on Dale County 11, left off Highway 231.
11:28 PM Dale County Sheriff Deputy has permission to pit if can get into position.
11:29 PM Approaching Dale County Road 36, vehicle turned left on Dale County Road 36. Headed back towards Highway 231. Speeds at 75 miles per hour.
11:30 PM On Highway 231 approaching Roy Parker. Speeds 94 – 96 miles per hour.
11:31 PM Approaching Highway 27, turning right on 27 which goes towards Enterprise.
11:32 PM Successful pit and attempting to box vehicle in.
11:32 PM Vehicle is back southbound.
11:34 PM On Highway 27, vehicle has wrecked and rolled over. Suspect is reported to have struck several law enforcement vehicles. ALEA – Troopers, Dale County Sheriff Deputies and Ozark Police units on the scene.
TOLD YOU – SHERIFF BYNUM AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS DO NOT PLAY
AND COMBINED WITH ALEA – TROOPERS AND WASP
OH WELL !!!
11:36 PM Ozark-Dale County 911 has rolled EMS. A Dale County Sheriff Deputy vehicle out of service due to damages when struck by suspect vehicle.
11:38 PM Suspect in custody. Suspect was driving a black Ford F-150. At this time it is unknown why suspect was eluding law enforcement but whatever the reason the suspect has another felony, and could have three felonies, one from ALEA – Trooper, Dale County Sheriff Deputies, and Ozark Police, to include damge to law enforcement which could be additional felonies.
11:44 PM WASP has now returned to routine patrol in the air.
11:47 PM Ozark EMS is on the scene.
ALEA – Communications and Ozark – Dale County 911 did a great job.
MONTGOMERY: This past Tuesday in the State of State Address by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Governor Ivey called out legislation that is being carried out by District 85 Alabama Representative Rick Rehm and Alabama Senator Mack Wood.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey stated that she fully supports this legislation and looks forward to it reaching the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
The bill, as described by Governor Ivey, will open a temporary pathway for qualified Veteran’s to be allowed to teach.
House District 85 represents Henry County and parts of Houston County. In Representative Rick Rehm’s re-election announcement he was endorsed by by Alabama Speaker of House Ledbetter and the local legislative delegation who were all present for Rick Rehm’s announcement to seek re-election.
PIKE COUNTY AL: Early this morning in Pike County, a vehicle struck a deer on Highway 231 at mile marker 88 in Pike County. A child in the car with his parents stepped out of the vehicle and reports are the child was struck by a semi.
Calls were made to Pike County 911 and Haynes Ambulance, Pike County Sheriff Department and ALEA – Troopers responded. Haynes Ambulance requested Haynes Aircraft responded. The child was flown to a trauma center.
The injuries are described as critical, but stable. The child is expected to survive the injuries.
Over the last couple of years it seems there have been more deer verses vehicle accidents.
DOTHAN: 5:01 PM Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Fire, Pilcher Ambulance and Dothan Police to 812 Monroe Street in Dothan. Responding Dothan Fire Engine Companies reported smoke visible from Range Street.
This is an offensive attack by Dothan Fire Department. On arrival of the first Dothan Fire Engine Company they reported smoke and flames visible. The first engine company reported a single story residential structure.
The residence was occupied and patient removed and Dothan Fire is working on the patient.
Anyone with additional information or scene pictures TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729.
UPDATED @ 5:35 PM
Dothan Fire has declared fire under control. Dothan Fire Chief David Hasty and Dothan Fire Prevention Investigators are on the scene.
The person which was found inside has been transported to Southeast Health.
UPDATED @ 8:13 PM
Within 5 minutes of the call coming into Dothan 911, fire departments had been dispatched, Dothan Fire Engine Companies were on the scene, patient was being removed from house and CPR in progress. Which is excellant response time for both fire and police department. Dothan Fire Paramedics did everything possible to save the patient. The patient also suffered second degree burns.
Dothan Fire Paramedics and Pilcher Ambulance transported emergency, trauma alert and CPR in progress to Southeast Health where the victim did not survive.
Dothan Fire Deputy Chief Pete Webb was on the scene.
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd responded to Southeast Health.
Dothan Fire and Dothan Police Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation which is standard protocol. There is no foul play suspected and the fire, preliminary, is beleived to have started in the kitchen.
HOUSTON COUNTY: On behalf of the citizens of Houston County, the family and friends, and staff of Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, we wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Donald Valenza moved to Dothan from New Orleans to play baseball at George C. Wallace Community College. He fell in love with Dothan – Houston County and stayed.
Serving the citizens of Houston County since 1979, Donald Valenza began working with Houston County Sheriff Department under then Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark as a Corrections Deputy. It was not long before Donald Valenza’s work ethic was noticed by Sheriff A.B. Clark and Donald Valenza was promoted to a Patrol Deputy Sheriff.
Since 1979, Donald Valenza has worked patrol, narcotics investigation, criminal investigations, Commander of Criminal Investigations, Chief Deputy Sheriff and then was appointed Sheriff, in 2014, on the resignation of then Sheriff Andy Hughes. Now Sheriff Donald Valenza sought election as Sheriff when the office was up for re-election and has been overwhelmingly elected and re-elected each time. Donald Valenza was first appointed in August 2014 and has 10 years of service as Sheriff.
During Donald Valenza’s 10 years as Houston County Sheriff he served as President of the Alabama Sheriff Association. This association represents all 67 County Sheriff’s across Alabama.
Currently, Sheriff Donald Valenza has a passion to establish a Alabama Sheriff Boys and Girls Ranch in Houston County or surrounding counties. Former Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark helped start the Alabama Sheriff Boys ad Girls Ranch when he served as Sheriff. This ranch is not for troubled youth, but youth removed from home situations that have terrible home situations. The ranch takes care of the boys and girls and provides stable home enviornment.
In 2025, Donald Valenza marked 46 years of continuous service with Houston County Sheriff Department. He has worked under Sheriff A.B. Clark, Sheriff Lamar Hadden, Sheriff Lamar Glover and Sheriff Andy Hughes.
During his many years in Criminal Investigation, Donald Valenza has worked most murders that fell under the jurisdiction of Houston County Sheriff Department. As Sheriff, Donald Valenza is an active working Sheriff. While he handles Administrative Duties, he responds with the SRT unit into dangerous scenes, and at times is in the field on routine patrol. Almost every day, in the early morning you will hear “3801 10-8” ( 3801 is his call number 10-8 is in service ) and lates at night you will hear 3801 is 10-7 ( 10-7 is out of service ). Then somehting will happen and you will hear, 3801 10-8 and off he goes to support the men and women in a dangerous situation or major crime that has taken place.
The Sheriff Department has an estimated 100 Deputies with about 70 in the Houston County Jail. As Sheriff he is responsible for the Houston County Jail that has a daily inmate count of app. 450 to 475.
Sheriff Valenza is seeking re-election in the elections of 2026. And RSN does not know of anyone currently strong enough to beat him.
