Press Release
June 29, 2012
On June 28, 2012 the Dothan Police Department was involved in a vehicle pursuit which ended in an officer involved shooting. Following standard procedures, the investigation into yesterday’s incident will be handled by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation however Dothan Police are able to comment on the events which precipitated the shooting.
While on routine patrol, a Dothan Police officer initiated an investigative traffic stop in the vicinity of Whiddon Street. Upon activating lights and sirens, signaling the driver to stop, the driver fled leading police on a pursuit that traveled westbound on Whiddon Street to Houston Street and continued westbound on Houston Street. As the suspect vehicle approached Montgomery Highway, the suspect vehicle turned into the parking lot at 1509 Montgomery Highway where he struck a car. Police officers exited their vehicles ordering the driver to stop at which time the vehicle accelerated toward an officer placing him in immediate danger. The officer fired shots at the oncoming suspect while moving to avoid being struck. The vehicle traveled across Montgomery Highway where it crashed through the side of a business striking an employee at 1558 Montgomery Highway. Medical staff stated the employee struck by the moving vehicle sustained moderate injuries as a result of the collision.
The suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Houston County Coroners Office. The suspect has been identified as Christopher Jerome Thomas, black male, 22 years of age, of Dothan, Alabama. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation quickly responded to the scene and will handle the investigation by request of the Dothan Police Department.
The Dothan Police Department would like to thank everyone who assisted with this incident including the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the Houston County Sheriffs Office and the Dothan Fire Department.
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