A search is underway for a 27-year-old man who struck and critically injured a bystander while he was fleeing from a Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy.

The incident happened about 4 p.m. Thursday. A deputy assigned to the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit was patrolling and saw Gerald Jerome Johnson Jr. driving a black Camaro recklessly and running stop signs, according to the sheriff’s office.

“To protect the innocent from being harmed by this dangerous offender, the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop,” said Wesley Richerson, the sherriff’s assistant chief deputy.

“The suspect accelerated at a high rate of speed, ultimately driving up and onto the sidewalk on Rosa Parks Avenue, striking an innocent pedestrian near West Patton.”

The 58-year-old woman was critically injured and taken to Baptist South Medical Center.

Johnson ran from the scene.

Richerson described the crime as “heinous” and “atrocious”, noting that it happened in broad daylight in a neighborhood.

“The suspect was armed with a stolen handgun that he discarded in the vehicle before fleeing on foot,’’ Richerson said.

Johnson was also wanted out of Elmore County, and the Camaro he was driving was later reported stolen, according to the authorities.

Richerson said Johnson should be considered armed and dangerous.

He is facing new charges of first-degree assault, felony attempting to elude and receiving stolen property.

Richerson said more charges are expected.

“We are fed up with these lawless criminals who destroy lives and create chaos in our community,’’ Richerson said. “An innocent woman who was simply walking on the sidewalk, is now fighting for her life.”

The sheriff’s office is working on the case with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery Police Department, and the MACS Task Force.

Richerson thanked the witnesses who called 911 to report the incident, and those who helped the injured woman on the scene.

“We are a strong community, and we will continue to rid our streets of these dangerous criminals,’’ Richerson said. “We are also praying for the innocent victim who suffered tremendously, and who has a difficult road to recovery ahead.”

Anyone with information on Johnson’s whereabouts is asked to call 911, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office or ALEA.