By Staff
Staff Reports
A car chase that began in Atmore early Sunday morning ended with the driver of the fleeing vehicle shot and three Atmore police officers on paid administrative leave.
“We had a shots fired call at 1:27 this morning and pursued a vehicle thought to be involved in that complaint, that hasn’t been verified yet, and the vehicle fled into the Walnut Hill area,” Atmore Public Safety Director Glenn Carlee said.
According to a press release from the Atmore Police Department, officers began pursuit of the vehicle, a white Nissan Altima driven by Danny Ray Williams, in the area of Ashley Street and Carver Avenue, near the location of the shots fired call, after seeing it travel at high speeds and run a stop sign.
From there, the release states the officers attempted to pull over the vehicle to no avail and at 1:37 a.m. reported they were in pursuit.
Officers pursued the vehicle onto Hwy. 97 south into Florida, staying back while awaiting the arrival of Florida officers.
Williams turned east on Hwy. 164 and then north towards Gobbler Road, then got back on Hwy. 97 heading south.
The release says that when Williams got back on Hwy. 97 he moved the vehicle into the northbound lane in an apparent attempt to hit the Atmore police unit head on, causing that vehicle to leave the roadway and stopping in a field where it got stuck. Williams then made a U-turn and backed into a wheat field south of this location.
According to the release, two other Atmore officers also in pursuit of the vehicle thought the vehicle had ended the pursuit and exited their vehicles approaching Williams and his passenger, an adult male, with weapons drawn.
Both men were ordered to raise their hands and the passenger immediately complied. Williams then turned the vehicle towards the lead officer and drove towards him, causing the lead officer to fall back to avoid being hit. Williams then turned towards the second officer who fired shots. The lead officer also fired shots after getting back on his feet.
Williams then got back on Hwy. 97 and traveled north towards where the other patrol unit was stuck. Williams too left the roadway and became stuck in the same field.
At 1:45 a.m., officers requested medical assistance at the scene. Williams, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and later to U.S.A. Medical Center in Mobile. As of Monday, he was listed in critical condition.
Williams' passenger was interviewed and released without charges.
The Escambia County Fla. Sheriff's Department, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were called to conduct the investigation.
Carlee said the names of the officers would not be released at this time and that the leave was normal procedure.