A Lee County man is in jail facing multiple charges after two teenagers were struck by a vehicle on a busy road in Smiths Station late Tuesday, authorities confirmed.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement representatives, James Gabberd was taken into custody and booked into the Lee County Jail after the incident, which was captured on video obtained by local news outlets.
Footage shows a silver Chrysler 300 traveling eastbound as it crosses into the westbound lane and strikes two pedestrians walking along the road. One of the victims can be seen attempting to signal the driver to stop before the vehicle reverses and accelerates away from the scene.
Emergency personnel responded, and one of the teenagers was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. The other teen declined medical transport at the scene, according to investigators.
After the hit-and-run, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency troopers, the Phenix City Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office located Gabberd and the vehicle at an address on 13th Street in downtown Phenix City.
Gabberd was arrested and booked into the Lee County Jail on the following charges:
Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Driving While Suspended
Improper Passing on the Right
DUI — Controlled Substance
Failure to Appear on Theft of Property (3rd Degree)
Lee County Jail records show Gabberd’s bond was set at $13,300 in connection with the charges.
ENTERPRISE: This morning a fire broke out at a petting zoo. Two BY Two Petting Zoo is a division of Whigham Farms and is conveniently located just 3 miles from Downtown Enterprise,AL. The petting zoo gives the opportunity to learn about farm animals and “feathered friends”. This is a walk-thru indoor exhibit.
This morning fire broke out at the petting zoo. Enterprise Fire responded and possibly other departments. Via TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729, RSN has been told some animals lost their life in the fire.
A mistrial was declared Thursday morning in the murder trial of Jessie Jerome Swain, one of three men accused in the 2007 killing of Dothan businessman Perry Griffin.
The mistrial followed testimony Wednesday from a police investigator who mentioned a suspect not formally charged in the case. Defense attorney Arthur Medley argued the statement prevented Swain from receiving a fair trial.
John Steensland, a Houston County Circuit Judge, agreed and granted the mistrial. A retrial has been scheduled for March, canceling the remainder of the two-day trial planned for this week.
Griffin was killed in 2007, but the case later went cold. In 2020, investigators announced arrests after developing new evidence, charging Swain along with Kevin Thornton. Kedrick Fitzgerald Bryant has been named as a suspect but has not been formally charged.
Thornton pleaded guilty on December 17 to a reduced misdemeanor charge of criminally negligent homicide as part of a plea agreement that included testifying against his alleged co-defendants. He was expected to testify this week before the mistrial was declared.
Authorities say Bryant is currently serving a lengthy sentence in an Alabama prison and will be charged upon his release.
Investigators say Griffin was preparing to leave Panhandle Converter in the early morning hours to purchase supplies and was carrying a large amount of cash, as he routinely did. Evidence indicated the suspects may have planned to restrain Griffin and move him to another location.
Authorities believe Griffin resisted, leading to a struggle during which a gun was fired, killing him. Approximately $35,000 was reported stolen. Two of the suspects arrested were employees of the now-defunct Dothan business.
A woman has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sexual relationship involving a minor, according to law enforcement sources.
Authorities say the investigation began after police were notified of possible inappropriate conduct involving the suspect and a minor male. Sources allege the juvenile was a friend of the woman’s stepson and had been taken into her home.
During the investigation, law enforcement reportedly discovered videos on the minor’s cellphone that were determined to be evidence in the case. Following the findings, investigators moved forward with criminal charges.
The woman is currently facing the following charges:
Pornography Involving a Parent/Guardian and a Minor (Class I)
Distribution of Harmful Material to a Minor (two counts)
Sodomy in the Second Degree
Due to the nature of the allegations, authorities have not released additional details regarding the minor involved.
The case remains under investigation, and further information is expected to be released as it becomes available.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
