Man leads police on high-speed chase

An Andalusia man is behind bars after leading local law enforcement officials on a high-speed pursuit and foot chase Monday evening.

Eddie Lankford was taken into custody near the old WAAO radio station behind Walmart after fleeing from his blue 2006 Suzuki Forenza he drove down an embankment into the woods.

Covington County Sheriff Chief Deputy David Anderson said the events that led up to Lankford’s arrest started in front of the county courthouse.

“Deputy Nick Stanley was approached by a white male acting very erratic outside of the courthouse asking for help,” Anderson said. “When Deputy Stanley called for some back up because the subject (Lankford) was acting suspicious, the subject jumped in the car using some profanity toward Deputy Stanley. I tried to stop and apprehend him, but he attempted to elude all through downtown Andalusia (on) Three Notch and Sanford Road.”

Anderson said he thinks an Andalusia Police Department patrol car was struck by Lankford in front of Christ the King Catholic Church on Sanford Road going toward Walmart.

“He continued on into the Walmart parking lot, and Deputy Stanley saw him go over the embankment, and down into the woods,” he said.

It was believed that Lankford ran west toward Evans Barnes Golf Course at LBWCC, but he was found a short distance from his vehicle at the radio station.

Just in case Lankford decided to make a run for it, sheriff’s deputies and officers with the APD, probation and parole, the district attorney’s office and others set up a perimeter from Antioch Road east toward the back side of Walmart, where he was apprehended.

Anderson said the K9 tracking team with the Covington County Sheriff’s Posse — which was set on the ground at exactly 4:26 p.m. — located Lankford around 10 minutes later.

“They jumped him on the back side of the old WAAO radio station, and tracked him and made him,” Anderson said. “They actually barked at him and made him, and deputies and other officers apprehended him.”

However, Anderson said Lankford resisted arrest and had to be subdued with a taser.

“He was checked by Advanced EMS, and is going to be transported to the Covington County Jail with numerous charges,” Anderson said.

Anderson said no officers, nor any of the public, were injured as a result of the chase and foot pursuit. Advanced EMS checked Lankford out because he was in an accident and had been shot with a taser, he said.

The CCSO, APD, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force, OPD, the district attorney’s office and the Covington County Probation and Parole Board helped with the arrest.

“We appreciate everybody’s help, and we’re glad the situation was resolved with no further injuries and no risk to public safety,” Anderson said.

The Star-News will update when more information is available.