Arraignment set for man charged with attempted murder of officer

Published 10:17 am Tuesday, January 22, 2013

By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A man charged with attempted murder after police said he led them on a high-speed pursuit is scheduled to appear at the Shelby County Courthouse for his arraignment on March 4 at 8:30 a.m.

Kennedy

Maylene resident Courtney Sherrod Kennedy will appear before Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves to be arraigned on charges of attempted murder, attempted assault, reckless endangerment and attempting to elude a police officer.

A grand jury recently indicted Kenendy on the charges, according to documents filed at the Shelby County Courthouse on Jan. 17.

Alabaster police arrested Kennedy on June 25, 2012 after officers said the suspect led them on a high-speed chase after an attempted traffic stop.

According to police, an officer pulled Kennedy over on a traffic violation before the suspect sped away.

A short time later, another officer located Kennedy’s vehicle on First Avenue in Alabaster. Kennedy then allegedly refused to yield to officers and led them on a high-speed chase.

During the chase, police said Kennedy attempted to hit a police car head-on before striking a private citizen’s car on First Avenue, causing minor damage. Kennedy then allegedly struck another police car, causing minor damage.

Police said Kennedy then allegedly hit another police vehicle head-on near the intersection of First Avenue and Thompson Road, injuring the officer driving the patrol car.

After his vehicle collided with the police car, police said Kennedy fled the scene on foot and ran into a wooded area off Thompson Road. After a two-hour search involving the Alabaster, Helena and Calera police departments and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, officers located and arrested Kennedy off First Avenue near the Fox Valley Apartments before the suspect was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Since his arrest, Kennedy has been released from the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $79,000.