DPD arrests suspect after high speed chase ends in Selma

At 3:34 a.m. Thursday morning, as Demopolis Police Officers were patrolling the city during the night shift, an officer heard an alarm coming from SunSouth (John Deere) located near Highway 80.

Upon investigating the alarm, the officer noticed a white van in the parking lot leaving at a high rate of speed. The officer gave chase, heading east on Highway 80. At that time, other officers joined the chase.

Demopolis Chief of Police Tommie Reese said that the chase reached speeds of 100 miles per hour and above. During the chase, he said, that the individuals in the van started throwing chainsaws and other items taken from SunSouth (John Deere) at the pursuing DPD Police Units, trying to slow them down or cause them to have a wreck.

Chief Reese said the chase ended in Selma after the suspects drove through two yards and tore down two fences. DPD officers apprehended one suspect after a brief foot chase and the other suspect was able to flee the area.

Reese noticed that the white van used in the burglary was a stolen vehicle and had been used in other crimes in Alabama. He added that other law enforcement agencies will possibly bring additional charges for other crimes committed across Alabama.

DPD officers arrested Audre Jerome Hendon, 57, of Birmingham and transported him back to the Demopolis Police Department where he was processed and later transported to the Marengo County Detention Center to await a bond hearing.

Reese highly commended his officers for a job well done. “We are the keepers of the city and tonight our officers did an excellent job, as always,” Reese said.

Assisting agencies were the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Selma Police Department and the Alabama State Troopers.

Bond for Hendon is set at $400,000.

The charges against Hendon are as follows:

Arrested was: Audre Jerome Hendon, age 57 of Birmingham, Al., He was charged with the following:

(1) Counts of Burglary III

(1) Counts Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree

(1) Count of Possession of Burglary Tools

(1) Count of Attempting to Elude a Police Officer