Ala. chief: Attempted trooper killer has eluded cops 4 times in a month

By Ashley Remkus Alabama Media Group

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. — A man accused of trying to kill an Alabama state trooper has escaped from police pursuits in Lawrence County at least four times in about a month, authorities said.

John Kaleb Gillespie is wanted on warrants for attempted murder, drug trafficking and more, said Moulton police Chief Lyndon McWhorter. The attempted murder warrant stems from a Nov. 3 encounter between Gillespie, Moulton police and a state trooper.

McWhorter said Gillespie tried to run over the trooper during a chase in Moulton that day. Officers tried to stop Gillespie’s vehicle as he left Burger King on Alabama 157.

“He rammed the trooper car and attempted to run over the trooper,” McWhorter said.

In a statement today, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the trooper, “believing his life was in danger,” fired his gun at Gillespie.

“There is no indication that he (Gillespie) was hit,” said Senior Special Agent Adam Buchanan, a spokesman for the State Bureau of Investigation. The Bureau is probing the incident because the trooper fired his gun. The authorities haven’t publicly identified the trooper.

The chase led to Lawrence County Road 345, where Gillespie ditched his vehicle in the backyard of a home. He ran from the scene, police said.

Moulton, Ala. police officers said they found about a pound of marijuana, 1.5 pounds of ICE methamphetamine and more than $17,000 cash during the Nov. 3 chase. Special to AL.com

In the vehicle, officers said they found about a pound of marijuana, 1,5 pounds of ICE methamphetamine and more than $17,000 cash.

McWhorter said Moulton police have been trying to capture Gillespie since Oct. 31 when he ran from officers and got away. After the Nov. 3 chase, officers again tried to capture him Nov. 9, the chief said. In that pursuit, Gillespie is accused of ramming a city police vehicle.

“Then he ran from the sheriff’s department again after that,” McWhorter said. “That’s four times in a month that he’s ran from law enforcement in Lawrence County.”

Police said Gillespie is also wanted in other north Alabama jurisdictions, including neighboring Morgan County. The 30-year-old is from Decatur.

“He has no regard for the safety of any citizens on the roadway,” McWhorter said.