A Georgiana man is facing multiple felony charges after leading police on an 11-minute, 113 mph chase through two South Alabama counties that ended when his pickup struck a River Falls police vehicle on Faust Road near McKenzie. Brian Ashley Jones allegedly brandished a firearm during the pursuit before both vehicles left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch, and no officers or bystanders were injured.
According to The Greenville Advocate, River Falls police officers were notified around 3:38 p.m. on Saturday that a red Ford F-350 dually pickup was barreling toward River Falls at high speed while allegedly fleeing Andalusia police. Officers located the truck entering city limits at approximately 109 mph, and the River Falls Police Department says the pursuit reached a top speed of 113 mph as it continued north on Alabama Highway 55, a rural corridor that links Andalusia and River Falls in Covington County directly to McKenzie and Interstate 65 near Georgiana in Butler County, per Trulia.
Officers Boxed In the Fleeing Pickup
As the chase unfolded, pursuing officers used deliberate positioning tactics to keep the fleeing truck contained in the right lane and prevent it from crossing into oncoming southbound traffic, according to a River Falls Police Department press release. The truck's driver, identified by police as Jones, allegedly displayed a firearm during the pursuit. The Butler County Sheriff's Department was notified as the chase approached the county line, and the pursuit crossed into Butler County near McKenzie around 3:49 p.m., roughly 11 minutes after it began.
Jones then turned sharply onto Faust Road, where his truck struck a River Falls police vehicle, sending both vehicles off the roadway and into a ditch. Enterprise Rescue personnel evaluated Jones at the scene before he was transported to the Covington County Jail, where booking records reviewed by BustedNewspaper Covington County Alabama show he was processed at 6:23 p.m. Saturday.
Chief Praises Officer, Sheriff Describes Assist
River Falls Police Chief Marcus Laster commended Officer Ryan Maddox for his performance during the high-stress chase, according to WAAO. Laster said vehicle pursuits are inherently dangerous and that public safety remains the department's top priority, adding that the suspect's reckless behavior posed a severe risk to the community, the Greenville Advocate reported.
Butler County Sheriff David Scruggs said his department headed down to make contact with the pursuing officers and assisted after the crash. Scruggs said the pursuit ended shortly across the county line and that Butler County resources were available to assist. The response ultimately drew in five regional public safety entities — the McKenzie Fire Department, Covington County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Andalusia Police Department and Enterprise Rescue — reflecting the coordination rural agencies must muster when a fast-moving pursuit crosses jurisdictional lines.
Charges Stack Up Across County Lines
River Falls police have charged Jones with attempting to elude law enforcement, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, menacing, and driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Because the chase crossed into Butler County near McKenzie, Jones also faces additional pending charges there, where the crash ultimately occurred.
The eluding charge now carries significantly stiffer consequences than it once did. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 233 into law in April, elevating vehicular eluding of law enforcement from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison, with enhanced penalties for hitting police vehicles, according to Police1.
The assault charges also carry serious statutory weight. Under Alabama Code Sections 13A-6-20 and 13A-6-21, assault with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument can be prosecuted as second-degree assault, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or first-degree assault, a Class B felony carrying 2 to 20 years, according to Darley Law. A vehicle used to strike an occupied police cruiser can legally qualify as a dangerous instrument under those statutes.
Separately, the DUI charge tied to a controlled substance carries its own penalties. A first-offense conviction under Alabama Code Section 32-5A-191 carries up to a year in jail, fines between $600 and $2,100, and a 90-day license suspension, per FindLaw. It remains unclear which controlled substance is alleged in Jones's case. The precise nature of the forthcoming Butler County charges and court dates for any preliminary hearings in either county have not yet been disclosed.
