Police Involved in at Least Eight Pursuits in Five Days
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media
March 4, 2026
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. During the anti-police movement that blanketed the nation just a few years ago, many police departments put extreme limits on when police officers could initiate a pursuit, allowing suspects in minor crimes, including most traffic offenses and even suspects wanted for felonies, to flee from the police and officers had to shut down all emergency equipment and not give chase.
Police pursuits are very common in the US, and in many areas, certain restrictions that were once limited when a officers could engage in a pursuit, have been removed or have become less restrictive.
Alabama is one of those states.
Protocols for initiating a pursuit are in place and often times it’s the shift supervisor or watch commander who ultimately makes the decision to continue a pursuit or to terminate it.
Annually more than 100,000 police pursuits occur nationwide, and those numbers are climbing as more drivers are refusing to pull over for law enforcement even when it’s just a minor traffic offense.
Locally, in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, we are also seeing an increase in police chases which happen almost daily, and on some days, there are multiple pursuits.
During the past five days, police have been involved in at least eight pursuits, all resulting in the arrests of the drivers.
Mobile police have been involved in at least three pursuits in recent days including a vehicle operating recklessly on Cottage Hill Road. The driver, Armando Powe, 30, was stopped and arrested and faces charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Attempting to Elude, No Insurance, No Child Restraint, Speeding, No Seatbelt and Having an Expired Tag.
Another pursuit in Mobile began when police tried to stop a driver for traffic infractions on Airport Blvd and the driver, later identified as Bruson Perkins, 21, engaged police in a pursuit. Perkins was caught and charged with a felony.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office has also been involved in several pursuits during the past five days including one on Interstate 65 on Monday that involved a wanted fugitive. The vehicle was eventually stopped in Conecuh County and the driver, who law enforcement has not identified was arrested.
ALEA troopers have also been involved in several pursuits this week in which state troopers were assisting other law enforcement agencies.
And at least three other local police agencies have engaged in at least one pursuit each.
Allowing law enforcement to pursue a known wanted fugitive or a violator of minor traffic offenses comes with certain inherent risks but allowing them to flee police can also have its own risks and perpetuate the criminal’s activity, recklessness and even escalate their crimes knowing that the police won’t pursue them or attempt to arrest them.
Each pursuit comes with different risks, circumstances and outcomes which law enforcement takes seriously and with great due regard.
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