By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
A Century woman was arrested by Escambia County, Fla. deputies after a pursuit that began in Atmore.
Vickie Lynn Pierce, a 30-year-old female, was charged with high speed attempt to elude, unproperly assigned registration, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and a non-moving traffic violation.
According to Atmore Assistant Police Chief Donnie Nunley, APD officer Raymond Langley spotted a Chevrolet Cavalier speeding as it headed west on Nashville Avenue at approximately 9 p.m. Officer David Reagan also picked up the vehicle on Nashville.
Langley traveled behind the vehicle as it turned into a parking lot. When Langley pulled into the parking area, Pierce pulled out. Langley followed and turned on his lights, but the driver did not pull over.
From the parking lot, the Cavalier headed east on Nashville and turned south onto Carney Street. Langley and Reagan continued to pursue the vehicle as it turned west onto Craig Street.
Officer Jarrod Leachman joined the other officers in pursuit as Pierce began heading south on Main Street.
At times during the pursuit in Atmore, Nunley said Pierce reached speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour.
Pierce continued traveling down Main (Highway 97) while Atmore officers and dispatchers warned Escambia County deputies that the driver was headed their way.
Escambia County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Cleveland Clanton said when they received word about the pursuit, they dispatched deputies to the area. As Pierce crossed the state line, the deputies joined the pursuit.
From Highway 97, the Cavalier turned east onto Highway 4 and then east again onto Pine Barren Church Road.
The Cavalier then apparently missed its intended turn off of Pine Barren and the pursuing officers appeared to have the car boxed in. But, according to Clanton, the car turned around and attempted to ram into an Atmore police car as it headed back toward Highway 4 and turned east.
From Highway 4, the Cavalier turned south onto Steel Road and then west onto Ribgy Road where the driver ran a stop sign.
The vehicle then stopped at 4720 Highway 4, Century, where Pierce exited the vehicle and ran toward the residence.
An Atmore police officer left his vehicle and chased the suspect down before she reached the door. Pierce was apprehended at that time.
Cleveland said the driver was traveling at rates of speed up to 45 miles per hour on Pine Barren Church Road, which is a dirt road and was muddy at the time due to rain.
Nunley said the suspect could still face charges of reckless endangerment and attempting to elude with the Atmore Police Department.