A Pensacola, Florida, man is behind bars on a $1 million bond after his arrest in last week's shooting incident involving an exchange of gunfire with a sheriff's deputy on Interstate 59 in DeKalb County, Alabama, according to a sheriff's office spokesman.
Dayon Patterson, 21, is charged with attempted murder and felony attempt to elude police, according to a statement issued by department spokesperson Tyler Pruett. The charges were filed by state authorities, he said.
It was unclear Monday whether Patterson has an attorney.
Officials also released more details about the incident.
According the DeKalb authorities, the incident started after a DeKalb County deputy, who hasn't been publicly identified, pulled over a northbound vehicle on I-59 south of Fort Payne on Sept. 16, Pruett said.
"The vehicle initially stopped at the Collinsville exit, but before the deputy could make contact with the suspect, he fled and got back on the interstate. While traveling at a high rate of speed, the suspect began firing upon the deputy," Pruett said.
The suspect, later identified as Patterson, allegedly crashed his vehicle into another vehicle, injuring the two people inside, he said.
Neither the suspect nor deputy were injured, and the suspect surrendered after the crash. The two motorists were transported for treatment by DeKalb County Ambulance Service, officials said.
(READ MORE: Gunshots fired into DeKalb County home leaves woman with wound to face)
The incident is being investigated by Alabama's State Bureau of Investigation, according to Jason Peek, spokesperson for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Peek said findings from the investigation will be turned over the Ninth Circuit District Attorney's Office in Fort Payne.
Pruett said the incident drew a wide law enforcement response including police from Fort Payne, Geraldine, Rainsville, Henagar and Collinsville, along with ALEA troopers and the Collinsville Fire Department.
(READ MORE: Officer-involved shooting near Fort Payne leaves man wounded)
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden called the lack of injuries from the shots fire "fortunate" and said the incident "highlights the increasing dangers faced by law enforcement."
"A seemingly routine traffic stop can turn into a deadly situation in an instant," Welden said, praising agencies that helped.
"This also goes to show that not only our law enforcement officers, but also our citizens that use the interstate must remain cautious," the sheriff said. "You never know who might be traveling through our county and what their intentions might be."
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 DeKalb County Sheriff's Office / Dayon Patterson, 21, of Pensacola, Fla.