How soon before one of these car chases turns deadly? Are they really worth the risk they pose to the public?
FLORENCE — Two separate police chases, which began in Florence on Thursday, led to the arrests of three people on drug-related charges.
The first chase of the day involved a report of a 1993 Ford Ranger being reported stolen.
Florence police found a vehicle matching the description and tried to stop the vehicle around 5:30 p.m., but the driver never stopped.
The chase headed north on Wood Avenue into the Cloverdale community and later into the Petersville community, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Hamilton.
The chase continued on County Road 10 toward the Natchez Trace on to County Road 85, and then southbound on Alabama Highway 157 heading toward the middle of the county.
Hamilton said the driver of the Ranger maintained speeds between 40 to 60 mph. He said there was one point when the driver exceeded 80 mph before deputies laid out spike strips to slow the vehicle.
After running through the strips, the chase ended on Cloverdale Road and Magan Drive near County Road 9.
Traevane O’Hara Turner, 28, of Florence was arrested and charged with first-degree receiving stolen property, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, attempting to elude law enforcement, and reckless endangerment.
The second chase also originated in Florence, where officers were serving a search warrant on a residence on Blair Street, according to police Sgt. Cliff Billingsley.
A vehicle left the area where the warrant was being served and police began to pursue it.
The vehicle never stopped, and the chase went into Colbert County before return to Lauderdale County.
The car continued on Alabama Highway 101 and eventually came to a stop east of Rogersville when the vehicle ran out of gas, according to Billingsley.
Quinton Keel, who was the driver of the vehicle, was charged with reckless endangerment, attempting to elude law enforcement, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The passenger of the vehicle, Jessica Morrison, was charged with reckless endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Keel, 24, of Florence is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Facility on a $1,500 bond.
Morrison, 36, of Florence is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Facility on a $1,000 bond.