Lee County pursuit involving box truck ends in Auburn with suspect in custody
A pursuit involving a rental box truck ended in Auburn with a suspect in custody.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones says deputies were originally called to Love’s truck stop on Lee Road 248 in in Smiths Station after an adult male left the business without paying while displayed handgun in the process.
The man left the business in a vehicle described as Penske rental box truck. Moments later, deputies located the suspected truck on U.S. Highway 280 in Opelika just south of Interstate 85 intersection and a pursuit began.
The pursuit, which involved Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Opelika Police Department, and Auburn Police Department, carried through Opelika and into Auburn, with eyewitnesses reportedly seeing the chase along Columbus Parkway, Frederick Road, South College Street, and Shug Jordan Parkway. The pursuit eventually ended on Richland Road in Auburn, and that is when the male suspect exited the box truck with a handgun and threatened to shoot himself.
“Deputies talked him into dropping his weapon and took the suspect in custody,” Sheriff Jay Jones said. “Controlled substances and suspected stolen property were discovered inside the truck.”
An investigation is underway. This remains a developing story.
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