REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT) – A Madison man was arrested after driving through the gates of Redstone Arsenal and leading authorities on a police chase.
On Sunday, January 11, an SUV traveling southbound on the north side of Rideout Road struck the safety netting at Gate 9 but did not stop.
The doorman notified Red Rock Police to respond to the doorman. Police then attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the 41-year-old driver, who had no connection to Arsenal, refused to stop.
Maj. Derek Campbell, operations officer for the Red Rock Police Department, said two police vehicles continued to pursue the SUV, which was traveling south on the Touf Highway.
When they arrived at Fowler Road, the vehicle turned left or east on Fowler Road and parked in the parking lot of Building 5440.
“Sgt. Gates and Sgt. Gollop were attempting to conduct a felony traffic stop,” Campbell said. “During a felony traffic stop, they had their guns drawn. While they were holding their weapons, they noticed the 8-year-old boy. They saw his head sticking out of the back seat.”
The driver refused the police’s order to get out of the vehicle.
“As they were trying to talk the driver out of the vehicle, he put the vehicle back in motion, went over a couple of curbs, and then ran off again,” Campbell said. “So they continued the pursuit out of fear for the child’s safety. The driver continued to flee. He was basically driving west on Fowler Road.”
The vehicle enters the area at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
A short time later, four Redstone police cruisers surrounded the car in a wooded area. The officer approached the vehicle and pointed his gun at the driver.
The man reversed his vehicle, nearly running over an officer, and then crashed into a patrol car, according to Redstone Arsenal officials.
“He tried to drive forward, but he got stuck,” Campbell said. “So, they verbally ordered him to get out of the car but he wouldn’t. He continued to disobey so officers had to break his window. They used batons and emergency window breakers.
“Eventually, the child did open the door. Sergeant Gates grabbed the child to ensure his safety. Once they secured the child, Lt. Holder and Lt. Bowden were able to take the driver into custody.”
The man and his son were taken to hospital with minor injuries after being hit by the catching net. The child was released to his mother. The 41-year-old driver is awaiting an appearance in U.S. District Court. Campbell said the charges against him include attempting to elude law enforcement, illegally entering a military installation, damaging government property, resisting arrest and domestic violence, which resulted in injuries to his son.
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