11:34 AM. Update On Police Chase - Press Conference At 3 PM

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Jun 16 2021 11:20 AM

DOTHAN:    11:01 AM     Dothan Police Chief Will Benny is expected to hold a press conference at 3 PM today concerning the chain of events this morning.

There are four crimes scenes involved. ALEA-SBI is conducting investigations along with Dothan Police Department.

The encounter with law enforcement occurred in front of the Volkswagon Dealership on Ross Clark Circle. The suspect and a Dothan Police Officer exchanged gunfire. The suspect then was able to enter the Dothan Police Officer's car as other officer's arrived.

The chase was only five to seven minutes long going from the Volkswagon dealership around Ross Clark Circle to Twitchell Road. The suspect, a white male, turned into Twitchell going through the parking lot and grass area. The suspect then busted the fence behind Twitchell onto Murray Road. The suspect then traveled to Denton Road and Murray Road where the police vehicle became disabled and surrounded by multiple law enforcement officers. Those officers included Dothan Police, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza and Houston County Sheriff Deputies, ALEA-Troopers and SBI Agents.

Dothan Police Criminal Investigation Lt. Scott Owens negotiated with the suspect on the Dothan Police Primary radio. The suspect, who according to his comments, had been shot in the stomach. He finally followed the directions of Lt. Owens and placed his hands outside the police vehicle and officers were able to take him into custody.

Dothan Fire was staged along with Pilcher Ambulance. He was transported under police guard to the hospital.

There is a crime scene at Motel Six. Apparently the suspect was staying there. Some cars are sideways in the parking lot. It is unknown if the suspect was staying at Motel Six.

Some will ask how did he steal a police vehicle. At the time the calls were received by Dothan 911 this was a developing story. People calling into 911 were observing different things so Dothan 911 and the responding officers did not know all of the details. Initially it sounded as a normal call law enforcement respond to.

While officers respond with caution, in this situation, from what we have been able to piece together, this subject had either a wise to die by law enforcement suicide, in other words make a officer kill him or a wise to kill a cop. 

So when you question why officers respond as they do and use caution, today is an example of why they do so.

From initial encounter with the first officer to police vehicle disabled was probably not over 10 minutes, the chase was probably five to seven minutes. The suspect reached speeds of 100 MPH.

Today was a team effort by multiple officers and agencies. The Dothan Police 911 Center, they did an awesome job in tense circumstances. Dothan Police Patrol Shift Commander Lt. Pepper Mock was the first to encounter the suspect as he drove off on the police vehicle.

News traveled rapidly at 7 AM in the law enforcement community. Officers responded and prepared in many directions in the event the chase went north - south - east or west. Officers all around were rapidly getting into positions during this five to seven minute pursuit.

THANKFULLY and PRAYERFULLY, no law enforcement officer or civilian received any injuries or any major injuries other than the suspect.

But this morning is an example how in law enforcement you go from peace to full combat in seconds.

GREAT JOB TO ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM AND PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM.

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