ALABAMA — A man is in custody following a vehicle pursuit that began in Lee County and ended in neighboring Russell County on Tuesday, authorities said.
According to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, deputies initially attempted a traffic stop after spotting a vehicle with an obscured license plate traveling east on U.S. Highway 280 near Lee Road 298. The driver refused to stop, prompting a pursuit.
The chase continued along U.S. 280 toward Phenix City. During the pursuit, the driver attempted to turn left onto U.S. Highway 80, heading toward the Chattahoochee River bridge into Columbus, Georgia.
The pursuit came to an end near the South Railroad Street overpass on U.S. 80 in Phenix City when the suspect’s vehicle suffered a mechanical failure. Officials said the engine locked up, forcing the vehicle to stop.
The driver, described as a man in his 30s, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Russell County Jail.
He is facing charges in Lee County, including felony attempting to elude and reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor. He was also cited for having an obscured license plate and an expired tag. Additional charges are pending in Russell County.
Sheriff Jones said the license plate had been covered with material, making it unreadable. No PIT maneuver was used during the pursuit, and authorities are continuing to investigate whether the driver had any outstanding warrants.
