An Alabama woman is on the run in a car bearing a tag with her name on it after fleeing authorities and allegedly driving her car toward a Jackson County narcotics agent Tuesday, leading him to fire his weapon at her.
Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, agents with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit were investigating complaints of drug activity in the area of County Road 673 in Stevenson, Alabama, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the sheriff's office.
As officers approached two vehicles and an all-terrain vehicle stopped at a dead end, an unidentified man fled on the ATV and the officers made contact with the people in the two cars, one man identified as 47-year-old Michael Keith Garrard and a woman identified as 48-year-old Madonna Lynn Gant, both of whom are familiar to the agents, authorities said in the statement.
Officers searched one of the vehicles and found a suspected methamphetamine pipe with residue on it, according to the statement.
As officers placed Garrard under arrest and put him in handcuffs, Gant made her move, authorities said.
Gant jumped into a blue 2011 Ford Mustang bearing a personalized Alabama plate reading "LYNGANT," and attempted to flee but crashed into a wooded area, causing the vehicle to stall temporarily, authorities said.
"As one of the narcotic agents approached the vehicle in an attempt to arrest the driver, the vehicle backed out of the wooded area and drove aggressively toward the agent, at which time the agent fired several shots at the vehicle," officials said in the statement.
Gant continued her flight and remains at large. Police said no one was known to be injured.
Now Gant is being sought on a warrant charging her with first degree attempted assault, authorities said. Gant is known to frequent the Pisgah and Rosalie communities in Jackson County and Ider and Henegar in neighboring DeKalb County. Jackson County officials issued a notice to agencies across the tri-state area to be on the lookout for Gant.
Based on the history of the incident, police said, Gant should be considered dangerous. Her access to weapons is unknown.
Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said Wednesday that Gant could be risky to approach.
"We don't know of her having weapons but she's attempted to stick a hypodermic needle in a deputy," Harnen said of past allegations.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Madonna Lynn Gant or the blue 2011 Ford Mustang is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at 256-574-2610 or dial 911.
Meanwhile, officers in a later search of Garrard's vehicle found suspected meth, pills and illegally possessed prescription medications, police said. Garrard is charged with unlawful possession of the controlled substance of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance-schedule V controlled pills and unlawful possession of prescription medications, according to the statement. A bond has not been set.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.
Photo contributed by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office / Michael Keith Garrard