Woman facing additional charges for allegedly running over sheriff's major

Dade County Sheriff Ray Cross stands before reporters during a news conference at the Dade County Commission building on Aug. 8, 2018, the day after sheriff's Major Tommy Bradford was hit by a suspect in a high speed chase, resulting in the loss of part of his leg. / Staff photo by Rosana Hughes
Dade County Sheriff Ray Cross stands before reporters during a news conference at the Dade County Commission building on Aug. 8, 2018, the day after sheriff's Major Tommy Bradford was hit by a suspect in a high speed chase, resulting in the loss of part of his leg. / Staff photo by Rosana Hughes

Lora Leeanne Wooten, the woman who led a police chase and allegedly ran over Dade County Sheriff's Office Major Tommy Bradford, severing part of his leg, is facing additional criminal counts.

photo Times Free Press file photo/ Major Tommy Bradford walks with his son, Aidan Bradford, after finishing his first day of Pre-Kindergarten class in August 2006.

The Fort Payne, Alabama, Police Department announced today that they filed charges against her of burglary, attempt to elude law enforcement, tampering with evidence, criminal littering, reckless endangerment and five counts of attempted assault of a police officer.

According to a news release, this case began when Wooten, 35, of Henagar, Alabama, stole an air compressor on Aug. 7. She is also accused of leading officers on a chase across state lines.

In Trenton, Dade County officers chased her. Bradford lay a spike strip across the road, hoping to blow out Wooten's tires. But police say Wooten swerved out of the way, into the median, hitting Bradford. Dade County Sheriff Ray Cross said she "targeted" the major.

On top of her new charges in Alabama, Wooten faces charges in Georgia: driving without insurance, reckless driving, driving within a median, improper lane change, failure to register a vehicle, driving with defective tires, serious injury by vehicle, passing within 200 feet of oncoming traffic, driving on the wrong side of the road, felony attempting to elude, removing tag with intent of concealing identity of vehicle, aggravated battery, improper passing in a no passing zone, failure to obey traffic control devices, seatbelt violation, DUI, hit and run, expired license plate, theft by bringing stolen property into the state, aggravated assault against an officer and driver to exercise due care.

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