Hot pursuit lands father, son in jail
Published 12:03 am Tuesday, July 26, 2011
A father and son from Opp were arrested following a high-speed pursuit Saturday afternoon.
According to a press release issued by the Covington County Sheriff’s Office Sunday, the events began when deputies attempted to apprehend Wesley R. Cooper, 23, who was wanted for felony violation of probation. Reports indicate that Cooper was pursued by deputies down several county dirt roads south of Opp until he ran into a ditch on J Entry Road and fled on foot shortly before 6 p.m.
When deputies lost sight of Cooper, the K-9 Tracker and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office aviation unit were called in to assist with the search. When night fell, the search was called off; however, at 6 a.m. Sunday, deputies received information that Cooper had returned home. Cooper was taken into custody without incident a short time later.
He is currently being held in the Covington County Jail without bond on charges that include violation of probation, failure to appear, attempting to elude, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental operations.
Cooper’s father, 52-year-old Richard A. Cooper, was also arrested after he allegedly tried to interfere with the Sunday pursuit. According to the press release, Richard Cooper continued to interfere and ultimately was arrested and charged with obstruction of governmental operations and issued several traffic citations. He was placed in the county jail and held on a $20,000 bond.