OZARK, Ala. (WDNews) — An Ozark man remains in custody after authorities say he assaulted an Ozark police officer, led officers on a high-speed pursuit through the city, and attempted to flee on foot Sunday morning.
According to the Ozark Police Department, officers responded at approximately 10:20 a.m. Sunday, July 26, to the 200 block of Hillcrest Street regarding a suspicious circumstance involving 32-year-old William Christopher Pearson.
Police said an officer located Pearson and attempted to make contact with him. According to the department, Pearson became agitated and refused to cooperate. When the officer attempted to detain him, police said Pearson punched the officer in the face, fracturing the officer’s nose, before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
According to police, additional officers and deputies with the Dale County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist in the search. A short time later, another Ozark officer located Pearson’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but police said he refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit through Ozark.
According to the Ozark Police Department, officers deployed spike strips that successfully disabled the vehicle near Jernigan Road and U.S. Highway 123. After the vehicle came to a stop, police said Pearson fled on foot, prompting officers to establish a perimeter and request assistance from K-9 units and the Dale County Wiregrass Aviation Support Program (W.A.S.P.).
Following what police described as an “exhaustive search,” W.A.S.P. personnel located Pearson, who was taken into custody without incident.
Pearson was booked into the Dale County Jail Sunday afternoon. Jail records show he is charged with second-degree assault and felony attempting to elude.
According to the Ozark Police Department, the injured officer was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment after suffering a fractured nose. Police said Pearson was not injured during the incident.
The department also thanked the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, Houston County Sheriff’s Patrol and K-9 Unit, Dothan Police Department K-9 Unit and patrol officers, and the Dale County Wiregrass Aviation Support Program for assisting in the search and arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing. Pearson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
