Suspects arrested in Opelika after 3-county chase

Dabney

Opelika, Al.

Three men are behind bars at the Lee County Detention Facility after leading police from four law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase spanning more than 25 miles through two states and three counties Thursday.

William Dabney, 19, Dominique Johnson, 24, and Emmanuel Walker, 20, all of Columbus, Ga., are being held on fugitive from justice warrants after spike strips were deployed to stop the 1993 Chevy Impala Dabney was driving on U.S. Highway 280 in Opelika shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday.

In addition to Columbus police, who initiated Thursday’s pursuit, officers from the Alabama Department of Public Safety, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Opelika Police Department also responded.

Johnson

The chase, which reached speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour before ending in Opelika, began in Columbus, Ga., after a Columbus Police officer observed the suspects’ vehicle leaving a burglarized home in the 8000 block of Garrett Pines Drive, said CPD Capt. William Turner. The pursuit began when the officer unsuccessfully attempted to stop the vehicle.

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said attempts to disable the vehicle were made by using spike strips where Lee roads 379 and 158 intersect U.S. Route 431. The suspects’ vehicle was able to drive around the strips each time.

A successful third deployment of spike strips by state troopers and Lee County sheriff’s deputies just inside the Opelika city limits deflated the vehicle’s tires, and the three suspects were taken into custody without incident, Jones said. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle after the suspects’ arrest, according to Capt. Van Jackson, LCSO chief investigator.

Dabney, Johnson and Walker were the only occupants of the Impala, Turner said.

Walker

“Right now we’re in the process of trying to arrange their extradition back to Columbus,” Turner said. “There was property in the vehicle, but right now we have not been able to verify whether or not it was property taken from the burglarized address.”

Turner says when the three suspects are extradited back to Georgia, they will face burglary charges and a number of traffic violations.