Chase Ending in an Arrest

Sheriff Jimmy Harris reports that on December 30, 2013 between 10 and 11 PM, Alabama State Trooper Micha Little attempted to stop a vehicle on I-59 North just South of Fort Payne. The driver, the lone occupant, refused to stop and the Trooper advised Fort Payne PD and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance in stopping the vehicle.

Fort Payne Officers attempted to spike the tires of the fleeing vehicle and the driver drove his car across the median and continued North bound in the South bound lane for several miles until exiting the interstate at Alabama Highway 117. The pursuit continued up Highway 117 toward Henagar. At this time, Alabama State Troopers, Fort Payne P.D. and Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office were involved.

Eventually the car turned onto County Road 674, a dead end road, where the driver of the pursued vehicle stopped, exited the vehicle, and ran into a nearby wood line where he was later apprehended after a brief search by personnel from all three agencies.

An inventory of the vehicle, prior to it being towed, had been conducted and approximately 2 ounces (60 grams) of Methamphetamine, three stolen firearms, and four other fire arms were located inside the passenger compartment.

Arrested was John William Goodale, 39 years old from Henagar, Jackson County, Alabama. Goodale was charged with Attempting to Elude, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Receiving Stolen Property, and Non-Payment of Child Support.

Goodale was transported to the DeKalb County Detention Center where he remains on $33,000.00 bond with other charges pending.

Sheriff Harris states “It was an outstanding job that the Alabama State Troopers, Fort Payne Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office did on this case. It is always great to get drugs off the street and to recover stolen weapons.”