BY CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Millbrook Police Department responded to Walmart with regard to a report of a theft in progress. Responding officers were advised that the alleged offender was leaving the scene in a white Chrysler 200. Responding officers observed the suspect vehicle leaving the business and attempted a traffic stop as the vehicle turned off of Highway 14 to Grandview Road. The suspect vehicle accelerated, refusing to stop and continued southbound on Grandview Road. The vehicle turned from Grandview Road onto Oak Tree Road, continuing at a high rate of speed, still refusing to stop. The vehicle turned from Oak Tree Road, onto Highway 14 eastbound.
The vehicle continued eastbound on Highway 14 at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour, continuing to Highway 143, where the vehicle turned northbound continuing at a high rate of speed, still refusing to stop. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle went into the oncoming traffic lane several times, forcing vehicles to take evasive action to avoid collision. Officers also learned that there was possibly a one-year-old child in the vehicle. Based on the suspect’s erratic/reckless driving, traffic conditions and the possibility of a child being inside the vehicle, supervising officers instructed pursuing officers to discontinue the pursuit.
Shortly after officers discontinued the pursuit of the suspect vehicle, the Millbrook Police Department was forwarded a call, via Elmore County 911. A citizen, who had observed the pursuit, advised that he witnessed the suspect vehicle turn off of Highway 143, onto Violet Lane, which is a dead-end road. The complainant advised that he would monitor the road and block it, if necessary, in order to prevent the suspect from re-entering Highway 143. Millbrook Police responded to the 300 block of Violet Lane, where they located the suspect vehicle, which had been abandoned, near a vacant residence.
A cursory search of the immediate area yielded no results. Officers were in contact with a family member of the suspect, who confirmed that the suspect was accompanied by her minor child, and was still in the area threatening to harm herself. Millbrook Police officers and Elmore County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a grid search of the area. The alleged offender, later identified as Tiffany M. Smith, a 25-year-old Deatsville resident, and her minor child were located by law enforcement officers, hiding behind a residence in the 100 block of Violet Lane.
The child was unharmed.
Smith was placed under arrest, being charged with Attempting to Elude, Domestic Violence 3rd Degree (Reckless Endangerment), and 11 counts of Reckless Endangerment. Smith was transported to the Elmore County Jail, where she remains under a $13,000 bond. Additional charges for theft may be pending from Walmart once warrants are obtained.
This situation ended about as well as it could have, in that no one was killed or injured, as a result of this individual’s reckless actions. The alleged offender in this case, in her attempt to evade apprehension by law enforcement, operated her vehicle with no regard for herself, her child or any motorist that she encountered as she fled from law enforcement. While I understand that the offender may have fled because she was aware of outstanding felony probation warrants with Elmore County, that’s no excuse for her reckless disregard for the safety of her own child and the safety of others. Our officers terminated the pursuit for that very reason.
I want to thank the individual that contacted law enforcement to advise us of the alleged offender’s location, which enabled us to apprehend her in a much safer and controlled manner. More importantly, we were able to ensure that her child was safe. I knew it was getting dark quickly and that severe weather was on the way. Every law enforcement officer out there was focused on finding that baby, as each of us are fathers and grandfathers. I would also like to thank the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this case.
There have been recent discussions with regard to proposed legislation in our state, which would make fleeing from law enforcement a felony. I wholeheartedly support that. I am sure other law enforcement officials will join me in encouraging our state legislators to pass that legislation. Vehicle pursuits are inherently dangerous and anything that we can do to discourage people from fleeing from law enforcement, we certainly need to consider.
For those who say it’s unfair to punish people for trying to flee from law enforcement, my reply is simply this: First of all don’t commit a criminal offense. If you insist upon doing so, know that there are consequences and be prepared to face them. Endangering the lives of others because you decide to commit a criminal act, and you further complicate things because you don’t want the consequences for your actions, know and understand that there are consequences and they will be commensurate with your actions.
