Sep. 17—A Fairview woman was arrested Sunday evening after she tried to elude several law enforcement agencies by driving over 100 mph — at times traveling in the wrong direction — and blowing through intersections, according to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
Sandra Bailey, 56, had “multiple outstanding warrants” when she fled an attempted traffic stop on U.S. 231 South near Alabama 36 East, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Instead of stopping, Bailey, in a silver Toyota Camry, turned west on Alabama 36 and accelerated, according to a deputy’s affidavit filed in Morgan County District Court on Monday.
“The Camry continued to travel westbound on (Alabama 36), swerving into opposite lanes of travel as well as reaching speeds greater than 100 mph,” the affidavit reads.
Bailey continued through the intersection of Alabama 36 and Alabama 67, without stopping at the stop sign, at around 60 mph, according to the affidavit.
Priceville police waited for Bailey with spike strips at Shiloh Church on Alabama 36, around 13 miles west of where the pursuit began, according to the affidavit. Police successfully spiked Bailey’s tires, but she continued traveling westbound.
Hartselle police got a turn next. They successfully spiked Bailey’s tires at Lando Cain Road in Hartselle, around 21 miles west of where the pursuit began, according to the affidavit.
Bailey continued driving westbound, through the light at the intersection of Main Street and Bethel Road and across the railroad tracks at over 45 mph, according to the affidavit.
“The Camry went through the red light at Sycamore Street Northwest and Main Street and turned right onto Sycamore Street Northwest, where it lost control due to only having one good tire, and crashed out into a fire hydrant,” the affidavit reads.
Bailey was uncooperative when deputies tried to arrest her, according to the affidavit, and they deployed a Taser to get her to comply with handcuffs.
The Camry’s vehicle identification number did not show as registered to anyone, according to the affidavit, and Bailey told deputies that the vehicle belonged to her cousin.
Bailey is charged with felony attempt to elude, resisting arrest, and numerous traffic violations, according to the Sheriff’s Office. She remained in the Morgan County Jail on Monday in lieu of a $7,400 bond.
Amid hundreds of deaths caused by police chases in the U.S. each year, the Police Executive Research Forum, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, studied police pursuits and issued guidance last September.
“This guide recommends adopting a standard that permits pursuits only for violent crimes and where failure to immediately apprehend the suspect presents an imminent threat to the public,” it reads.
The guide acknowledges that there may be rare, exceptional situations for reckless drivers, but that such decisions should only be made after considering whether a chase would make the situation better or worse: “For example, if a suspect begins driving more recklessly after police intervention, it is important to discontinue the pursuit.”
— david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.
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