By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A Monroeville man was arrested on numerous charges Friday after he led police on a high-speed chase along two city streets.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said this week that 20-year-old Jaden Smith was taken into custody after a brief foot chase that took place when he wrecked his vehicle at West Park after running through the stop sign at Ridgeley Street and Wilson Avenue.
“APD got a call from an individual, stating that her boyfriend was following her,” Brooks said. “The altercation began in Bay Minette, and they left in separate vehicles. When an officer got behind him, he fled. He finally wrecked at West Park.”
The police pursuit continued southward on North Main Street, and by the time the suspect, driving a silver Ford Fusion, turned onto Ridgeley shortly after 1 p.m., three police cruisers and an APD pickup were in hot pursuit.
“He was moving on pretty good when he came by here,” said Bubba Tedder, who was repairing a car at Tedders Auto Repair when the caravan of vehicles sped by. “I heard a ‘whoosh,’ then sirens.”
Cindy Tedder, who was in the repair shop’s office, pointed out that, “if somebody had been pulling out of our lot, it could have been bad.”
According to the shop’s video surveillance footage, at least two pickup drivers saw the chase unfolding and pulled to the side of the road, one of them just making it before the suspect’s vehicle came whizzing by.
The incident created a bit of excitement, especially for one customer.
“There was an elderly lady here, and she kept yelling, ‘high-speed chase, high-speed chase’,” laughed Cindy Tedder.
Brooks said a police officer suffered minor injuries during the foot chase but returned to work after being checked out.
Smith was charged with one count each of third-degree domestic violence (harassment), attempting to elude police, possessing a firearm without a license, reckless driving and running a stop sign.