On July 16th and approximately 9:25 pm Chief Randy Bynum stated a call about a Domestic Violence situation came into the Fort Payne Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the area of the 4100 block of Fischer Road NE. The caller stated that there was a male subject attempting to pour gasoline on a female subject who was the home owner. Bynum stated when officers arrived on the scene, the suspect, later identified as Jeffery Scott Johnson, age 40 of Fort Payne, had stolen a white minivan and left the scene. While officers were gathering information on the domestic call Mr. Johnson came back by the residence. The victim and the officers identified the van and officers attempted to stop the vehicle Bynum said. Mr. Johnson turned onto Dean Road and traveled approximately a mile turning off his lights and traveling at a high rate of speed attempting to elude officers before turning into a driveway. Mr. Johnson backed out of the driveway and attempted to ram a Fort Payne Police vehicle. Mr. Johnson’s vehicle ended up in the ditch along side Dean Road. Chief Bynum stated a Fort Payne Police Officer attempted to get Mr. Johnson to put his vehicle in park and exit the van, instead Mr. Johnson refused officers commands and accelerated toward the officer. The Fort Payne Police Officer fired his service weapon at Mr. Johnson’s vehicle as he was in fear of being struck by Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson was struck by gunfire and treated at the scene by Fort Payne Officers, Dekalb County Sheriff’s Officers, Fort Payne Fire and Rescue Personnel and Dekalb County Ambulance Service Personnel. Chief Bynum stated Mr. Johnson was transported to Dekalb Regional where he was treated for his gun shot wounds and later airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. At the present time Mr. Johnson is being charged with Theft of Property in the first degree and Domestic Violence in the second degree, each charge has a $100,000 bond for a total of $200,000. The investigation continues with more charges forthcoming Bynum stated.
Bynum stated investigation teams consisted of Fort Payne Police Department Detectives, State Bureau of Investigation, Jacksonville State Center for Applied Forensics Unit and Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office.