Burglary suspect arrested after chase
Published 6:34 pm Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A 19-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning after leading authorities on a high-speed chase through South Shelby County.
The chase started after Shelby County sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglary alarm at Outdoor Distributors on U.S. 280 between Chelsea and Westover. When deputies arrived, they saw Brandon Roberson driving away in a Jeep.
Officers tried to get Roberson to pull over, but he refused, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies continued to follow Roberson through Chelsea, Westover and Harpersville.
The chase ended after Roberson got stuck on railroad tracks near Main Street in Wilsonville. Roberson was the only person in the Jeep and no injuries were reported. Several patrol cars suffered minor damage though, authorities said.
The Mt. Olive native faces theft and burglary charges and is in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $1 million. Other charges are pending, according to the sheriff’s office.
Alabama State Troopers, Chilton County sheriff’s deputies and police officers from Harpersville and Columbiana helped with the chase.
Outdoor Distributors sells mowers, tractors and other lawn equipment. The store is closed on Wednesdays.