Double Springs police officer, suspect wounded in exchange of gunfire following chase

Double Springs police officer, suspect wounded in exchange of gunfire following chase

A Double Springs police officer and a suspect were wounded when shots were fired during a Tuesday-night chase in Winston County.

Double Springs Police Chief Kim Miller said the ordeal began when his officers received multiple reports of a reckless driving on Highway 278.

Officers made contact with the driver – now identified as 48-year-old Jeffrey Lee Adair – near County Road 55. At that point, the chief said, Adair made a U-turn and fled from the officers.

Officers and Winston County deputies pursued Adair for about 10 minutes at speeds ranging from 40 mph to 55 mph.

They ended up back on Highway 278 at which point a deputy tried to cut off Adair and Adair struck a sheriff’s patrol vehicle, Miller said.

Adair’s vehicle veered backward into a ravine. When officers and deputies went to check on him, the chief said, “He was barricaded in.”

Officers gave verbal commands for him to roll down the windows. “He opened fire on them,’’ Miller said.

A Double Springs officer was struck in the hand. The other officer fired back, striking Adair in the left arm.

Despite being wounded, Adair stayed holed up in the vehicles. Officers and deputies backed off, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency responded to the scene with negotiators.

Three hours after negotiations, Adair surrendered.

He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was treated for his injury. He is now in the Winston County Jail facing numerous charges.

Miller said Adair was under the influence of narcotics.

The wounded officer was treated and released. He will have to undergo surgery to remove the bullet, which is lodged in the bone of his hand.

“It was unusual night for us,’’ the chief said.