Early morning chase ends in crash, arrest

WINSTON COUNTY - The pursuit of a suspect driving a vehicle believed to have been stolen out of Jasper, ended early Thursday morning, March 8, when the vehicle left Highway 278 in a curve and crashed, with the subject apprehended after bailing out of the vehicle and fleeing into a wooded area. Michael Dylan Tittle, 23, of Jasper, was already facing a warrant for escape third degree on a previous case, with this case adding more charges in the county, including reckless endangerment, attempting to elude a police officer and theft of property fourth degree, as well as traffic citations for driving without headlights and reckless driving, according to Haleyville Police Chief Kyle Reogas. Tittle was found lying beside a log in the woods, taken into custody by Haleyville Police, which initiated the chase, which transported Tittle from the scene to the Haleyville Police Department, where he admitted to having stolen several items from the Haleyville Walmart store, including pants, gloves and socks, authorities noted. Tittle was then transported to Lakeland Community Hospital, Haleyville, where he was screened or checked in accordance to policy when a person is involved in an auto accident then taken into custody, Chief Reogas said. After being medically cleared from Lakeland, Tittle was transported to the Winston County Jail. The ordeal began in Haleyville around 4:23 Thursday, March 8, when Haleyville Officer Steve Hicks observed a red 2010 Ford Ranger pickup pulling out of the Walmart parking area without headlights on, so he attempted to initiate a courtesy traffic stop to inform the motorist he was driving without headlights. At this point, the Ranger sped up and led authorities on the pursuit, which picked up Haleyville Officer Rodney Lewis in Ashridge as well as the Double Springs Police Department and Winston County Sheriff's Office in Double Springs before continuing on eight miles east of Double Springs when the suspect vehicle crashed. *When a defendant is charged with a crime, the charge is merely an accusation until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.