Man charged for shooting at officer
Published 1:18 am Saturday, August 27, 2011
An Andalusia man is in jail after he accidentally shot at a police officer during a foot pursuit Wednesday morning.
Lt. Paul Dean with the Andalusia Police Department said Randy Lavon Howard, 26, is charged with reckless endangerment as a result.
“Police were dispatched in reference to a general disturbance at a home on Wilder Avenue,” Dean said. “When Officer Steve McGowin began taking up the IDs of those at the home, one person ran.”
Dean said backup arrived in the form of officers Jimmy Lassiter and Ryan Maddox. Maddox gave chase, he said.
“When the subject ran toward the intersection of Opp Avenue and Smith Street, he entered a wooded area and apparently fell down. That’s when the gun went off,” Dean said. “At that point, the pursuit was terminated, but officers immediately began searching as to (Howard’s) whereabouts.”
Dean said Howard was located at a home on Smith Street Thursday and taken into custody without incident and booked on a $500 bond.
“At no time was he trying to harm anyone,” Dean said of Howard’s actions. “But the thing is, anyone in that vicinity – people in the houses, officers – they could have been hurt. We’re lucky that no one was injured.”