Jacksonville, AL – On April 6, 2022, a Jacksonville Police Department Patrol Officer observed a Black GMC Yukon with a tag that was not assigned to it in the area of Alexandria Rd and D Street and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Tony Eugene Heath, 43, of Piedmont, refused to pull over and began to flee in the vehicle. The officer then initiated a pursuit and activated all emergency equipment in the patrol vehicle. Heath led officers throughout the Northwest part of Jacksonville where he was seen by officers, reaching over to the passenger side of the fleeing vehicle. Officers then observed Heath throw a green bookbag out of the vehicle and continued his attempt to elude the police. A short time later Heath drove off the road and lost control of the Yukon, crashing it in the area of Pleasant Valley Road and Littlejohn Road. Heath exited the vehicle and began to run on foot with officers still behind him. After a brief foot pursuit with officers Heath was taken into custody without any further incident. Chief Marcus Wood advised that the pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes from when the traffic stop was attempted until Heath was in custody.
Other officers had secured the bag that was thrown from the vehicle and when it was searched a large amount of cash and drugs were located. A total of 510 grams of Methamphetamine, 62 grams of Marijuana, and 22 grams of Fentanyl, and $6,800 in U.S. Currency was collected as evidence.
“Heath was charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st, Unlawful possession of a Controlled substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, resisting arrest and attempting to elude. Heath has been jailed at the Calhoun County Jail awaiting bond and a court date.
Heath is a career criminal with enough charges to fill 8 pages, and several active Felony Warrants with multiple agencies. All the officers involved in getting Heath off the streets today done an excellent job and acted with professionalism throughout.
We are committed to keeping drugs and drug dealers out of the City of Jacksonville.”
