JeffCo Sheriff's Office Makes Drug Bust In North Jefferson County

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office made a narcotics arrest after a high speed pursuit in north Jefferson County. The incident occurred near Fultondale Tuesday night.

Sgt. Joni Money of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said, deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on a White Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck on Walker’s Chapel Road in Fultondale. The driver of the vehicle slowed down, as if he were going to stop, but instead fled from deputies, Money said.

Deputies were joined by additional agencies on a pursuit that started in Fultondale and ended on I-22 near Graysville.

Money said that during the chase, the driver of the truck, Charles Ray Ricketts, tossed what was later found to be bags of crystal methamphetamine, out of his window and Ricketts maliciously slammed on his brakes, put his truck in reverse and rammed the lead patrol unit in the pursuit.

"Ricketts repeated this hostile behavior multiple times until the deputy fired two shots at the offender. Ricketts was not hit," Money said. "He then continued onward, fleeing from deputies, until he lost control of his truck on I-22 near Cherry Avenue, at which point he was taken into custody without further incident."

Ricketts was charged with assault, drug trafficking, possession of controlled substances, tampering with physical evidence, attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia.