Piedmont, AL – On July 2, 2024, officers met with a victim of an attempted murder at the Piedmont Police Department. The victim was able to describe the violent incident in detail with the officers and an investigation was immediately started. The victim stated that at approximately 9:30 am, a violent assault occurred between them and another person, later identified as, Andrew Bales, 51, of Piedmont, on Foothills Drive. During this altercation, Bales is alleged to have struck the victim in the head with a handgun, and then pointed the weapon towards the victim’s face and pulled the trigger. The firearm did not discharge, and the victim began to fight for control of the handgun. Once the victim was able to gain control of the firearm they fled from the scene and proceeded directly to the police department.
Piedmont Investigations were contacted, and they took possession of the firearm as evidence. When they looked at the weapon, they observed that the primer cap had the markings of being struck by the trigger being pulled. This occurs if the bullet is faulty, old, or previously wet, when the firing pin comes into contact with the primer there should be a detonation of the round and the bullet will exit the barrel.
Piedmont Investigators were able to establish enough probable cause to secure an arrest warrant for Bales, as well as a search warrant for his residence. When officers served the arrest and search warrant at the Foothills Dr. address they were able to take Bales into custody and recovered additional evidence of the reported crime.
Bales was transported to the Calhoun County Jail where is currently being held on charges of Attempted Murder with a bond set at $30,000.
Piedmont Police Chief, Nathan Johnson, said, “I’m proud of the investigators and officers that quickly responded to this situation and took a dangerous person off the street”.
