August

Shots fired at domestic dispute, arrest made

A Jemison man was arrested on seven different criminal charges Aug. 12 after multiple gunshots were fired during a domestic situation.

Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said JPD responded to a call during the early morning hours on Aug. 12 to County Road 151 and County Road 768 on reports of gunshots being fired in the area.

According to Fulmer, once the police officers responded to the area, they determined that a male subject, identified as a 38-year-old man was involved in an apparent domestic situation with some family members when he started shooting at them with a semi-automatic handgun.

Fulmer said none of the family members were injured during the shooting.

“He then barricaded himself inside the residence and was threatening to shoot the police officers who were on the scene,” Fulmer said.

The Emergency Services Unit (ESU) team, made up of police officers from the Clanton Police Department and JPD, were called out.

While on the scene, Fulmer said team members started verbally communicating with the suspect attempting to get him to surrender peacefully.

The man refused to cooperate and stepped out of the back door of the home and fired a shot with a 7 mm Magnum rifle.

Fulmer said the ESU team started sending tear gas and “hot” gas inside the residence and within 30 minutes, the suspect exited the residence and was taken into custody without any further incident or injury.

“This was a very bad and intense situation for a while and one that could have been much worse,” Fulmer said. “These guys are trained very well and they all did an outstanding job. This is exactly how you want these situations to end. No one was injured and the suspect is in jail.”

Fulmer said CPD, JPD officers, first responders as well as different agencies throughout the county assisted with the incident.

Thorsby teacher arrested on rape and sodomy charges

The Chilton County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Thorsby High School teacher Aug. 16 on six counts of rape (statutory) in the second degree and two counts of second-degree sodomy.

Sheriff Kevin Davis said a female, 39, of Thorsby, was taken into custody by the sheriff’s department at 4:40 p.m. on Aug. 16.

Davis said the woman was arrested at the Chilton County Jail after authorities obtained a warrant for her arrest due to allegations made regarding the woman.

“The allegations that were made were investigated and a warrant was obtained,” Davis said.

Davis said due to the victim being a juvenile, he could not release any information and it is unclear if the victim was a Thorsby student.

Chilton County Superintendent Dave Hayden said the woman was a cheerleader sponsor at Thorsby and was primarily a sixth grade teacher.

Hayden said the woman was placed on indefinite administrative leave Saturday morning.

The woman was held at the Chilton County Jail on a $160,000 bond.

Davis said the woman made bond and was released from the county jail on Aug. 17.

“We are continuing to investigate the situation,” Davis said.