Vehicle break-ins lead to manhunt
Law enforcement officers across the area are searching for two suspects who allegedly evaded arrest on Dec. 18 in the Eagle Point community. The area has been reopened to the public, but the suspects are to be considered armed and dangerous.
From the Shelby Co. Sheriff's Office:
On Dec. 18, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Shelby County Sheriffs deputies responded to the 5500 block of Parkside Drive to investigate a report of a person with a weapon. The suspect left the area in a white Acura prior to the deputys arrival. A short while later a vehicle matching the suspects car description was traveling on Cahaba Valley Trace. The vehicle refused to stop and attempted to elude deputies as they pursued it. The suspect lost control of the vehicle at the intersection of Cahaba Valley Road and Eagle Crest Drive and crashed. Two black males fled on foot from the scene. Deputies discovered that the car was reported to be stolen from Pelham.
Shelby County Sheriffs deputies, with the assistance of Hoover and Pelham police officers, established a perimeter around the area and began searching for the two suspects. At 5:37 a.m. the Sheriffs Office received a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence in the 1100 block of Eagle Park Road and deputies responded to the residence. The vehicle that was stolen is a black 2009 Chevrolet 2500 Silverado truck with Alabama tag number 58X12038. The truck reportedly had a hunting rifle in it, has a black bed cover and Rest in Peace sticker on the back window.
It is believed the suspects from the earlier pursuit stole this truck and left the area. In addition to this stolen truck, numerous vehicles in the general area have been broken into.
After approximately three hours of searching without success, the area was reopened to the public. The suspects remain at large and should be considered armed and dangerous.
The stolen black 2009 Chevrolet 2500 Silverado truck was later found unoccupied by Birmingham police officers on 7th Avenue in Wylam. The hunting rifle was not recovered.
Update: The Unlawful Breaking and Entering of Vehicle complaints were located at:
Four in the 1100 Block of Eagle Park Road
One in the 200 Block of Brook Green Lane
One in the 1500 Block of Southern Drive
One in the 200 Block of Highland View Drive
One in the 300 Block of Brook Geen Lane
One in the 1600 Block of Indian Springs Lane
The truck was stolen in the 1100 Block of Eagle Park Road.
Sheriffs deputies and investigators are still in the area and more reports are still coming in as residents discover additional cars broken into. Three handguns, one hunting rifle and one I-Pod have been reported stolen so far.
Anyone with any information about this crime is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriffs Office directly at (205)669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205)669-9116 or through our website at www.ShelbySO.com by clicking on the Report Criminal Activity link and choosing the General Information category.