Michael Cody (Courtesy of Hollywood Police Department's Facebook page)A man who is suspected of firing shots at a Hollywood, Ala., police cruiser at the end of a pursuit late Wednesday was captured Thursday morning by Scottsboro police in the same area he disappeared.
Thursday afternoon, Hollywood Police Chief Jason Hepler said the driver of the car, Michael Cody, 44, of Fort Payne, will be booked on charges of two counts of attempted murder and one count of fleeing to avoid arrest after he is treated at Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro for non-life-threatening wounds to his hand and chest from an exchange of gunfire late Wednesday night with a Hollywood officer.
Hepler said a search was about to begin Thursday morning using rescue squad members and a boat when Cody was discovered along Bellefonte Road near the Tennessee River.
"We were forming up a search group and Scottsoboro's police officers were already down there waiting for us," Hepler said. "They heard him walking in the water."
Cody was taken into custody at the scene where he crashed a car during a pursuit that ended at the Bellefonte Nuclear plant entrance gate Wednesday night.
"He fired several shots towards the officer and struck his car," the chief said. Neither the officer nor a passenger with him were injured, Hepler said.
Hepler said the shots allegedly fired by Cody hit the police car in the hood and passenger side door.
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation - Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's criminal investigation arm - is investigating the officer-involved shooting portion of the incident, but Hepler said local authorities will handle the investigation of the chase and the ensuing criminal charges against Cody.
Hepler said Cody has no prior criminal history locally, but he does have a criminal history in other counties.
"It's still an active investigation," Hepler said, noting more charges could be pending as the probe continues.
A search was conducted after the pursuit ended Wednesday night but thick vegetation and lack of access prevented officers from finding Cody until daybreak, the chief said.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.