High-speed chase in Elberta, Foley leads to arrest

By Cliff McCollum
Posted 9/26/16

A more than ten-minute high-speed chase through Elberta and Foley last Friday ended without accident or injury, as the Elberta Police apprehended Charles William Moore in Foley.

Elberta Police …

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High-speed chase in Elberta, Foley leads to arrest

Video of the chase
Posted

A more than ten-minute high-speed chase through Elberta and Foley last Friday ended without accident or injury, as the Elberta Police apprehended Charles William Moore in Foley.

Elberta Police Chief Stan DeVane said the pursuit began when one of his officers visited Moore’s residence in Elberta to try to serve a warrant.

“This individual had a felony drug charge outstanding with the county and a warrant for third degree domestic violence with the town of Elberta,” DeVane said. “The county had been to try to serve him twice and we were with them once and tried, but he had continued to elude our attempts to locate him.”

Officer David Nesbitt with the Elberta Police was approaching Moore’s residence on foot when Moore arrived home in his vehicle, a silver Volkswagon Jetta. Upon seeing Nesbitt, Moore attempted to flee the scene while Nesbitt chased the car on foot.

Nesbitt radioed in he had seen Moore and DeVane, who was nearby in his vehicle, decided to pursue, backed up by Assistant Police Chief Ryan Pelfrey.

DeVane saw Moore speed through at the intersection of Highway 98 and Old Foley Road, where the pursuit began to pick up speed.

Moore cut through the back parking area of the Shell Station at the intersection of 98 and the Beach Express, cutting back onto the Express before running the red light at the intersection and hitting speeds of upwards of 90 miles per hour heading toward Foley on 98.

“He had several opportunities to pull over, but he just wouldn’t do it,” DeVane said. “We’re really very fortunate that no one in the public was injured because of his actions.”

Moore then cut through several residential areas in Foley before cutting across the parking lot of the Liquidation Outlet in Foley, narrowly avoiding hitting a truck in that parking lot, and through the Pen Air Credit Union parking lot.

He then made his way out onto Highway 59, darting into the Winn Dixie parking lot.

“By that point, the Foley Police department was aware of what was going on and had begun to help block intersections to keep him boxed in,” DeVane said. “We’re also very thankful to the members of the public who were on the road that day and quickly maneuvered out of his way and ours to aid in this pursuit.”

In the Winn-Dixie lot, Moore rammed DeVane’s police Tahoe but was still able to make his way back to 59, eventually speeding into the McDonald’s parking lot.

By entering the exit lane at McDonald’s, DeVane was able to get in front of Moore’s vehicle and ram him to a stop.

Moore then fled on foot through a hedge wall to the O’Reilly’s auto part store next door.

DeVane pursued Moore and arrested him inside the store.

DeVane said the department normally doesn’t engage in pursuits like this but felt it was warranted given Moore’s continued ability to elude officers.

“This was a guy who had a felony warrant out on him,” DeVane said. “We saw an opportunity to try to get this guy off the street, and we took it.”

DeVane was quick to thank the Foley Police for their assistance on the case and said he was proud of the job his officers did.

“It was a total team effort,” DeVane said. “We were trying to bring this guy in and make our town a safer place, and we accomplished that.”

Moore will likely be charged with felony eluding and reckless endangerment as a result of the chase.

Moore is currently in the county’s jail in Bay Minette awaiting further charges.