By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP – Managing Editor
A high-speed chase across Escambia County that involved law enforcement from Brewton, Flomaton, Atmore, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and Alabama State Troopers ended when the suspect lost control of his vehicle just south of the Brewton city limits on Hwy. 31 Friday afternoon.
Ramming into other vehicle along the way, the suspect often exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour with a trail of law enforcement officers behind him.
Gregory Eugene Bonds, 23-year-old male of Parrish, Ala., was charged with two counts of attempted murder, theft of property, first degree and leaving the scene of an accident. Bonds allegedly hit a number of vehicles in the Atmore area and through the county's jurisdiction. The exact charges against Bonds could not be verified.
According to Brewton Police Chief David Lovelace, the incident began with a hit and run on Interstate 65. He said Bonds exited the interstate at Atmore where he hit four vehicles.
Flomaton officials were called to prepare for the speeding 1994 Honda Accord. When they attempted to stop Bonds, he hit a police patrol car and continued along Hwy. 31 toward Brewton.
The Brewton police attempted to lay out a stop strip to force the car off the road, but was unable to set it up as the vehicle reached Brewton very quickly. He made his way into Brewton with a number of law enforcement officials pursuing him.
Rarely slowing down, Bonds took a right across the railroad track onto Hwy. 41. He immediately turned left onto St. Joseph and then across the track, back onto Hwy. 31 north.
Lovelace said when he crossed the track the second time he hit them so hard his tires blew.
Despite having no tires, the car continued along Hwy. 31. Just south of the city limits, Bonds lost control of the vehicle and it flipped several times before landing in a ditch.
Bonds was transported to the hospital and was later transported to the county jail.