Guntersville, AL PD Officer Injured (Shot during pursuit)

[Bama512]

Apparently he was shot in the head while still inside his vehicle during/after a pursuit. The officer reportedly has been conscious and talking (and may be able to go home tonight!) 3 People in custody. This is a town about 20 miles away from the one I work in.

UPDATED: Guntersville Police Officer Shot - WHNT

Guntersville police officer shot in the line of duty - WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-

ABI investigating cop shooting | Breaking News from The Huntsville Times - al.com - al.com

[Five-0]

Three in custody at this time.

[Captain America]

Prayers for the officer's full and speedy recovery.

[CTR man]

Apparently he was shot in the head while still inside his vehicle during/after a pursuit. The officer reportedly has been conscious and talking (and may be able to go home tonight!) 3 People in custody. This is a town about 20 miles away from the one I work in.

Another Guntersville Police Officer tells us the officer was shot in the head above his ear. When the officer left the scene he was still conscious and talking.

Damn, I sure do hope he recovers. That was way too close for comfort.

IF he makes it, I hope the suspects get charged with attempted murder.

[CTR man]

Police: Suspects Were Shopping For Meth Materials Before Guntersville Officer Was Shot - WHNT

Police: Suspects Were Shopping For Meth Materials Before Guntersville Officer Was Shot

Three in custody, police chief says they were 'shopping pharmacies' in Albertville to buy pseudoephedrine

Carson Clark & Claire Aiello WHNT NEWS 19
1:47 PM CDT, September 22, 2009


GUNTERSVILLE, AL - Guntersville Police Chief Jim Peterson says three people are in custody following a shooting Monday night where an officer was shot. Two men and one woman, all from DeKalb County, face various charges including attempted murder of a police officer. Peterson says the three were shopping pharmacies in Albertville trying to find materials to make methamphetamine.

Officer Jason Austin, 36, was shot Monday night around 8:15 following a chase that started on Rose Road in Albertville. At a news conference Tuesday morning, Chief Peterson described the events that led to the shooting.

Peterson said Albertville Police Officer Thomas Ball pulled over a vehicle on Rose Road, in Albertville. He thought something seemed suspicious, and was getting ready to write a ticket when the people drove away. That started a chase, and Officer Ball followed. Guntersville police officers joined in the chase, Officer Austin among them. The chase ended on Wyeth Drive.

Peterson says the woman in the car, Elizabeth Denise Moody of Valley Head, fired shots at the officers, hitting Officer Austin between his right eye, close to his right ear. She also allegedly fired at another Albertville officer, Bradley Bowen, missing him. Paramedics rushed Officer Austin to Huntsville Hospital, where he was treated and then released around 11:30pm.

Police say Barrie Lee Vaughn, 38, of Henagar and Royce Eugene Murphy, 53, of Valley Head were also in the car. They are in custody, along with Moody. All three will be booked into the Marshall County Jail later today. Moody, 33, faces two counts of attempted murder against a police officer, for allegedly firing at Austin and Bowen. She is also charged with manufacturing of a controlled substance. Vaughn and Murphy are each charged with manufacturing of a controlled substance.

Moody's bond is set at $1,000,000.

Peterson said Austin is recovering at home and doing well, despite being upset about the shooting. The bullet went in above his right eye and skimmed below the skin, then went below his right ear and stopped. It's still lodged there. Doctors will evaluate his wound in a few weeks to determine if he needs surgery to remove the bullet.

Austin has worked for the Guntersville Police Department for two and a half years. Before that, he worked for the Scottsboro Police Department. He and his wife Heather have a two year old son.

When Austin was released from the hospital Monday night, he raised his arm in the air and smiled, hugging about a dozen people who were waiting for him outside the emergency department.

Chief Peterson thanked surrounding departments for their assistance in blocking intersections along Highway 431 and Governors Drive so paramedics could rush Austin to the hospital as quickly as possible. He also said the mother of Daniel Golden, a Huntsville police officer killed in 2005, has called his department to offer her support to Officer Austin's family.

More charges could come against Moody, Vaughn and Murphy. Each of them were facing drug-related charges in DeKalb County and were out on bond. DeKalb County has now revoked their bond.

[Jenna]

Hope he recovers quickly.

[Buttercup]

Thoughts and prayers for his continued recovery.

[Bama512]

Meth has been around for a while in that area...they were featured in an episode of Intervention on A&E called "Meth Mountain".

http://www.aetv.com/listings/episode...isodeid=392028

[CTR man]

Seems that the methamphetamine trade is rampant in many areas.

It is responsible for our auto theft problem being number 1 in the nation per capita according to the NICB. Along with low bails for the offenders when caught.

Stanislaus County retakes the No. 1 car theft spot nationwide - Local - The Modesto Bee

https://www.nicb.org//HotSpots2008/index.html

Glad to see that Officer Austin is back home and recovering. I hope the injury has no ill effects. Talk about cheating death, this is one for the books, for sure.