Two individuals in Saraland, Alabama, were arrested as a result of a high-speed police chase. Allegedly, they had stolen multiple items from a local Walmart and fled the scene in a U-Haul. They are now facing multiple charges, and a gun was recovered during the arrest.
WKRG, citing Saraland Police Chief Bryson McDaniel, reported that the incident occurred on Thursday, May 14. Local officers originally responded to a Walmart located on Industrial Parkway after they received a theft complaint. Then, they were advised that a weapon had been brandished.
Shortly after, police officers came across 21-year-old Horace Davis Jr. and 22-year-old Jamayah Thompson. As reported by FOX10 News, investigators alleged that they stashed TVs, clothes, and $1,000 wortfh of items in a U-Haul, of all things.
As the officers approached the vehicle, the high-speed chase began.
U-Haul Chase
NBC 15 News reported that the chase saw the U-Haul reaching speeds of up to 90 mph. The vehicle traveled from Saraland all the way to Mobile, Alabama, crossing through the cities of Chickasaw and Prichard.
Once in Mobile, local police officers, already briefed about the high-speed chase, laid out a set of spike strips. The U-Haul driver sped through the deflation device, which burst the truck’s tires.
Chase Continues on Foot
The U-Haul, however, refused to stop, further increasing the vehicle’s mechanical damage. Footage shown by FOX10 News shows that the tires were completely obliterated as a result.
Eventually, the vehicle came to a stop, not able to move forward. The suspects, however, refused to go down without a fight and exited the vehicle and started to run, as shown in the aforementioned footage.
Suspects Arrested, Charges
The on-foot fleeing didn’t last, unfortunately for the alleged thieves. Officers are shown tackling both of them shortly after exiting the vehicle, and both of them were arrested on the spot. Officers then allegedly found a weapon close to where Thompson was arrested, NBC 15 News reported, as well as the stolen items on the back of the U-Haul.
Horace Davis Jr. is charged with first-degree robbery, resisting arrest, attempting to elude, pistol possession by a prohibited person, and second-degree possession of marijuana.
Jamayah Thompson is charged with second-degree robbery, resisting arrest, attempting to elude, and second-degree marijuana possession.
If convicted of the robbery charges, Davis could spend 10 years to life imprisonment (or 99 years). Thompson, meanwhile, could spend up to 20 years behind bars.
Police Chief Issues Warning
Chief McDaniel told WKRG that he was “glad” that no one was hurt. This, of course, is surprising given the multi-city high-speed chase and the use of spike strips. He, however, gave a warning to anyone who wants to break the law in the city of Saraland.
“To anybody that wants to commit a crime in Saraland, just know you will be caught, you will be charged, and you will be arrested,” Chief McDaniel said.