Man flees deputy, tasered
Published 11:59 pm Thursday, August 6, 2009
An Andalusia man remains in jail on a host of charges Thursday after being tasered by a Sheriff’s deputy when he allegedly fled from law enforcement Tuesday night.
Chief Deputy David Anderson said the incident began when a deputy attempted to make a routine traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by John Paul Williams, 43, and Crystal Slay, 25, both of Andalusia.
“At approximately 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Deputy Ken Harris attempted to stop a vehicle on St. Hwy. 29 North near Bethany Church for a traffic violation,” Anderson said. “(Williams) initially refused to stop, but later pulled off on the side of Pt. A Isle Road long enough for the deputy to exit the vehicle.
“He then put (the vehicle) back in gear and drove off,” he said. “Deputy Harris pursued the vehicle toward River Falls at a speed of approximately 60 miles per hour. Williams then made a left hand turn on Fletcher Road where it ultimately came to stop in front of the South Alabama Gun Club range.”
Anderson said when the vehicle came to a stop, Williams and the deputy embarked on “an approximately 60-yard” foot pursuit.
“He was ordered to stop and refused,’ Anderson said. “Deputy Harris then used the taser to institute non-lethal use of force to make Williams comply. And he stopped.”
Anderson said during the course of the pursuit, Harris noticed “something” thrown out the window of the car, and Drug Task Force agents later recovered a bag of marijuana near River Falls/Heath Road.
Williams, the driver, is charged with driving while under the influence, second degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of probation and an alias writ of arrest for failure to pay child support. He remains in the Covington County Jail without bond.
Slay was charged with second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and has since been released.