Calhoun County, AL – As we reported in December, 2022 a Calhoun County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on US 78 in Anniston (Dearmanville area). During the course of the interaction a second vehicle arrived at the scene and the driver began to fire a weapon and then quickly left the area. Due to the deputy already having taken a person into custody, Thomas Griffith, 23, he was unable to chase the fleeing suspect.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office announced today that there have been two arrests made in that incident. Lieutenant Falon Hurst said, “After a long and detailed investigation that included assistance from the Oxford Police Department, EMACC (East Metro Area Crime Center), and the FBI we were able to develop enough evidence to make the arrests.”
During the investigation law enforcement learned that Thomas Griffith and Charles Kilgore were acquaintances and Griffith conspired with Kilgore to drive to the area of the traffic stop and fire his weapon in an attempt to get the deputy to leave Griffith and chase Kilgore. Investigators were able to identify the vehicle used by searching through the camera systems throughout the area. With the evidence collected federal authorities were able to secure a grand jury indictment against the two for felon in possession of a firearm.
Early in the morning of March 9, 2022, the FBI, Sheriff’s Office, and other jurisdictions worked together to execute the outstanding warrants. Griffith was located in Anniston and taken into custody without incident. Later that morning Kilgore was located at his residence in Cleburne County and FBI SWAT took him into custody without incident. Both were transported to Jefferson County to be processed on the federal charges.
Lt. Hurst said that the investigation is still ongoing, and more charges are possible. Griffith also had an outstanding failure to appear warrant in Calhoun County on the original charges that stemmed from the traffic stop.
