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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

CALERA – The suspect from a pursuit on Feb. 4 that ended in a crash in Calera has been identified by authorities.

Travis Lamar Whitt was booked into the Shelby County Jail on Feb. 4 with no bond for charges of trafficking fentanyl, trafficking illegal drugs and two counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances.

On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Calera Police Department Tactical Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the Nottingham subdivision when a suspect, who was already inside their vehicle, drove away initiating a pursuit. The chase eventually ended when the suspect drove off the road and crashed allowing authorities to apprehend him.

According to the Calera Police Department, the suspect is also charged with trafficking heroin and felony attempting to elude and federal charges are also likely to be made.

The Calera Police Department previously executed a search warrant in the Meriweather Drive subdivision on Jan. 31 alongside members of the state drug task force and federal agents.

Hyche expressed his gratitude to the Calera PD Tactical Team for their work on this operation and one that took place last week. He also thanked several law enforcement organizations for their assistance, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Helena Police Department, Jefferson County Aviation Unit, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Public Safety Drone Association, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Centerville Police Department.

“Both this week and last week’s drug trafficking case show our commitment to proactively identifying, investigating and referring for prosecution anyone who brings violence or drugs into our city,” Hyche said. “Proactively police work like this can give the appearance that an area has more crime. I would argue that ignoring crime and not being proactive encourages crime to grow and spread.”