From The Tribune staff reports
FULTONDALE — A dangerous police chase on Tuesday, July 28 has led to the arrest of Charles Ray Rickets, 43, of Empire.
Jefferson County deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on a Chevrolet pickup truck Rickets was driving down Walker’s Chapel Road in Fultondale. According to a release from the sheriff’s office, Rickets fled from deputies, beginning a pursuit that started in Fultondale and ended on I-22 near Graysville where he lost control of his truck and was taken into custody without further incident.
During the chase, Rickets tossed bags of crystal methamphetamine out his window and “maliciously slammed on his brakes, put his truck in reverse and rammed the lead patrol unit in the pursuit.”
According to the release, Rickets repeated the hostile behavior multiple times until deputies fired on him, missing. He continued fleeing and later lost control of the pickup near Cherry Avenue on I-22.
Ricketts has been charged with second-degree assault, drug trafficking, possession of controlled substances, tampering with physical evidence, attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia.