AREA NEWS IN BRIEF

Driver escapes in backyard chase

A man eluded Decatur police Monday night when a car chase went into a residential backyard and heavy brush saved him from a Taser shock.

Lt. Frank DeButy, a police spokesman, said an officer tried to stop a vehicle driven by a male in the area of 12th Avenue Southwest and Second Street at about 8:30 p.m.

Instead of stopping, the driver pulled into a driveway, opened the driver side door and kept accelerating, DeButy said.

The officer, in his patrol car, followed the vehicle into the backyard of a residence, where the driver bailed from the vehicle and ran, DeButy said.

He became entangled in a wire fence and kicked at the officer when he tried to take him into custody, DeButy said.

The officer deployed a Taser, but the heavy brush surrounding the man apparently broke the wires, DeButy said. The driver freed himself and escaped.

Seth Burkett

Decatur police probe store robbery

Decatur police are investigating the robbery of a convenience store by a masked man.

Lt. Frank DeButy, a police spokesman, said the man took an undisclosed amount of cash during the hold-up at J-Mart at 1305 Alabama 67 at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.

"The clerk said she was standing behind the register when a masked man entered and stated that he was robbing her," DeButy said. "The victim said she never saw a weapon, but the man kept his hands in his pockets as if he was armed."

The clerk was unable to give police many specifics about the man's appearance, DeButy said.

No arrests have been made.

Seth Burkett

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