Pursuit Suspect Charged With Marijuana Possession, Attempting To Elude

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa Police officer suffered minor injuries and a Taser was used to subdue a suspect following a pursuit Wednesday night that ended near a 15th Street gas station.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Tuscaloosa Police Department spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor said both the officer and suspect were immediately evaluated by medical personnel and expected to be alright.

Taylor said at approximately 9:45 p.m., officers attempted to stop a reckless driver at James I. Harrison Jr. Parkway and First Avenue, before the suspect vehicle went east on Skyland Boulevard.

The suspect then reportedly continued west onto Skyland, before making his way back to McFarland Boulevard.

As the pursuit progressed, the driver doubled back onto Skyland, before heading back onto McFarland once again and leading the chase onto 15th Street — straight into oncoming traffic in the opposite lane. Fortunately, there were no accidents or injuries caused because of the pursuit.

After turning onto 15th Street in the wrong direction, the suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to get away from police on foot at a gas station.

The suspect — Anthony Dewayne Ware Jr., 25 — was eventually subdued after a TPD officer used a Taser once he had exited the vehicle.

Ware was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana, failure to affix a tax stamp and attempting to elude police. His total bond on the three charges was set at $18,000.

The officer was injured during the foot chase that culminated in the suspect being taken into custody, but did not suffer injuries that warranted hospitalization.

This is a developing story. Tuscaloosa Patch will update this article with more information as it comes available.