Bond has been set at $1 million for an Alabama man who led two law enforcement officers in Fulton County on a high-speed chase resulting in a patrol car overturning in a dry creek bed, along with the vehicle being pursued.
Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork says 29-year-old Rodney Mayhand of Birmingham, Alabama has been charged with two counts of second degree battery on law enforcement, felony fleeing, possession of drug paraphernalia for introduction of methamphetamine or cocaine, resisting arrest, DWI drugs, driving left of center, and careless or prohibited driving.
The charges stem from a high-speed pursuit on Wednesday evening.
As Mayhand’s entered Salem city limits, he was stopped by Patrolman James Cantrell at the intersection of Hwys. 9 and U.S. 62/412. A check with the National Crime Information Center database indicated the vehicle he was driving had been reported stolen in Springfield.
When officer Cantrell asked Mayhand to step out of the car, he put the vehicle in gear to flee. Cantrell stuck his head into the car attempting to grab the keys and was drug a short distance.
Mayhand fled east on U.S. Highway 62/412 at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, at times completely in the oncoming lane.
Fulton County Deputy Dallas Montgomery was unsuccessful in deploying spike strips near Agnos in an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle.
The deputy accelerated his patrol car in an effort to box the fleeing vehicle between his unit and Patrolman Cantrell’s. Montgomery advised he had reached about 80 miles per hour when Mayhand, traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour, rammed his vehicle in the rear. The impact spun the deputy’s patrol car around, with it traveling several hundred feet east and across the highway into a dry creek bed where it overturned.
Mayhand’s vehicle crashed in the same dry creek bed just past the patrol car.
Patrolman Cantrell was able to arrest Mayhand when he exited his vehicle.
Deputy Montgomery was transported to the Fulton County Hospital by ambulance. Mayhand was flow to White River Medical Center in Batesville by helicopter. Both were treated and released.
Mayhand is scheduled to be arraigned in Fulton County Circuit Court on Thursday.
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