ALABAMA MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER FREEWAY CHASE, OFFICER STRUCK

A Vestavia Hills man faces an attempted murder charge after striking a Hoover police officer with his vehicle during a police pursuit that started in northern Birmingham and ended near the Riverchase Galleria about noon Wednesday. Officer Mike Lucas was admitted to Brookwood Medical Center for treatment of a broken leg and was being evaluated for possible surgery, Hoover police Capt. Jim Coker said.

Lucas was struck while trying to place a spike strip on U.S. 31 near the Galleria to stop the white Ford Windstar minivan driven by Anthony Shannon Warren, Coker said. After hitting Lucas, Warren turned onto the northbound ramp of Interstate 459. Near the top of the ramp, the minivan was bumped in a spin-out maneuver by a Birmingham police patrol vehicle.

The van overturned, and Warren, who was traveling alone, was ejected. He was handcuffed and taken to UAB Hospital. Coker said Warren's injuries were not life-threatening and he was expected to be taken from the hospital to the Jefferson County Jail, where he would be held under a $1 million bond.

Jefferson County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Randy Christian said Warren was also wanted on a warrant issued Nov. 28 for failure to appear in court on a charge of third-degree burglary.

Alabama court records show Warren has a string of felony arrests and convictions dating back to 1989 for crimes including theft, receiving stolen property and escape. Birmingham police started Wednesday's chase in north Birmingham after Warren fled from an officer who attempted to question him about his presence in the area, Birmingham police Sgt. Dexter Cunningham said.

After a short foot chase, Warren jumped in his van and took off. The pursuit traveled from Interstate 59 north onto I-459 south. Warren exited at Galleria Boulevard, turned left onto John Hawkins Parkway and then left again onto U.S. 31, with vehicles from Birmingham police, Hoover police and Jefferson County sheriff's deputies in pursuit.

Cunningham said Warren twice rammed a Birmingham police officer's cruiser during the chase. Lucas, a Hoover police officer since 1996, was scheduled to be promoted to sergeant during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Coker said Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis promoted Lucas and pinned on the sergeant badge at the hospital Wednesday.