Stolen goods charged after chase

The suspects are from the Attalla/Gadsden area and they are believed to have been involved in some burglaries and thefts that took place in the Albertville area and possibly other areas, according to Guntersville Police Chief Jim Peterson.

“Several vehicles had burglaries,” the chief said. “Stolen credit cards were then used to make purchases.”

Albertville developed a description of the truck the suspects were in and put out a BOLO, or "be on the lookout," for it. An Albertville officer assigned to the drug unit agent saw the truck near the Hebron Fire Department at Honeycomb and tried to stop it. The chase was on after that.

It came south on Hwy. 431, according to Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Willie Orr, and the suspect cut through County Park No. 1, apparently in an attempt to shake the pursuing law enforcement vehicles. A fisherman on the lake near the park said there was a great cloud of dust as the pursuit went through the gravel lot at the County Park.

“He came out behind Freedom Marine and got back on Hwy. 431,” Chief Orr said,” and came toward town.”

It came down through the main business district on Gunter Ave., nearly striking at least one pedestrian there. The fleeing vehicle turned left onto Taylor St. and did strike a parked vehicle in that vicinity, before hanging another left onto Blount Ave. Still another left was made onto Lurleen Dr.

“There’s one driveway off Lurleen Dr.,” Chief Peterson said. “Everyone forgets about that.”

The suspect vehicle made a left into that driveway and up the hill to the home there and that’s where the pursuit ended. There was nowhere else to go.

The driver got out and ran for the woods but was captured after a short foot pursuit. He’d left the vehicle in gear and it rolled into the garage door of the home there, but only did minor damage, Chief Peterson said.

Albertville investigators soon arrived to work the scene and talk to the suspects.

Derek Spurgeon, 38, of Attalla, and Emily Kelley, 22, of Gadsden, were booked at the Sheriff’s Office on felony charges of receiving stolen property. They were being held initially with no bond.

A third suspect was also taken into custody, but was not charged with a felony initially. Albertville Police Chief J.T. Cartee said Guntersville officers charged Darius Lindsey of Ragland with possession of marijuana. 

"This is going to solve a lot of cases around north Alabama," Chief Cartee said. "It's what we call a big lick. The truck was stolen otu of Jacksonville. We had some car break-ins around our area and the credit cards taken in those break-ins then used to make purchases."

In addition to the local agencies involved, ALEA state troopers also assisted. 

"It was just a great team effort with a lot of people working together," Chief Cartee said. "The county's new P25 radio system really shined in this incident."

In the past, he said, the different agencies had different radio frequencies and couldn't communicate on their radios, but would have to use cell phones. 

"They switched over to that and were able to talk to each other during the chase," Chief Cartee said. "It really worked well and I am so proud of how everyone worked so well together."

More charges are expected as Albertville works through the investigation. 

"It's going to take some time to get through all this," Chief Cartee said.