Teen arrested hours after slipping out of cuffs and fleeing from police cruiser in Opelika
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A Lee County juvenile is behind bars after sending law enforcement on a wild goose chase all morning into the afternoon hours in the city of Opelika.
Lee County SWAT Team and Opelika Police executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2800 block of Lee Road 188 in the Loachapoka area of Lee County. Law enforcement were able to arrest a 16-year-old juvenile with two counts of Robbery. The robbery charges were in connection to incidents that occurred earlier in the week at a convenience store and mobile home parks off of Pepperell Parkway.
As an Opelika police official was transporting
the juvenile to their headquarters, the juvenile was able to slip out of the handcuffs. When the police officer arrived at headquarters the juvenile fled on foot causing the officer to pursue the juvenile. As the pursuit continued the police officer was injured and treated by Opelika fire officials. The officer also lost sight of the juvenile, who was heading in the direction of Toomer Court around 9:20A.M.,
due to the injury.
After an extensive search, officers located and detained the suspect at approximately 12:47 p.m. at a residence on Carver Avenue.
The juvenile is now facing additional charges related to the escape.
“The Opelika Police Department would like to thank the Lee County SWAT Team, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Auburn Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the ALEA Aviation Unit for their assistance,” Opelika Police said in a press release.
The case remains under investigation and additional charges are pending. If you have any information, please contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can be submitted through our Opelika Police Mobile App. You may wish to remain anonymous.
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