An Andalusia man was arrested for assault Friday after he allegedly narrowly missed pinning a police officer between two vehicles the night before.

Drug Task Force Commander Mark Odom described it as a “close call” for the two unidentified agents. Odom said the men were attempting to interview two subjects about a narcotics investigation when the incident occurred.

“When the agents arrived, they noticed someone in a blue, Crown Victoria-type car in the driveway of the home,” Odom said. “Fearing that whomever was in the car may have been attempting to leave, one agent activated his blue lights to signal for the car to remain parked.

“Another agent got out of his vehicle and was walking toward the car, but when he got close to the car, the driver reversed, striking the agent, which caused him to be jolted onto the trunk of the vehicle,” he said. “Luckily, the agent was able to roll off of the car and onto the ground before the car sped away. He was also able to strike the car’s passenger side window with a flashlight.”

Odom said agents gave chase as the vehicle fled onto Railroad Avenue, but were unable to stop it.

By Friday afternoon, agents had located the car at a home on Wilder Avenue and took two suspects into custody.
Odom said after interviewing them, 21-year-old Chaimbrin Flowers confessed to being the driver of the car from Thursday night. Flowers was charged with second-degree assault and attempting to elude or flee a law enforcement officer. He was booked into the Covington County Jail and held on a $203,000 bond.

“All law enforcement officers realize that the job we do is dangerous,” Odom said. “When things like this happen, it brings that underlying fear to the forefront. I want to personally thank all of the officers that responded to assist the two agents involved, because within a matter of minutes, officers from the Andalusia Police Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole, Florala Police Department and Opp Police Department responded to assist in the search for the suspect.”