Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson escaped serious injury Saturday evening after having his arm run over by a fleeing suspect’s SUV. Even after being injured, Deputy Johnson fired five rounds into the suspect’s vehicle, hitting the suspect at least once. Official information regarding the incident and its investigation is in a press release below. All officer involved shootings are subject to investigation as a matter of formality, and this in no way implies any wrongdoing by the Deputy. Deputy Johnson is a veteran of the force, and a K-9 officer.
From Jason Ward, Special Agent Senior Public Information Officer of the State Bureau of Investigation:
“Special Agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are investigating an officer involved shooting at the request of Sheriff Jody Wade of Bibb County. The incident took place at approximately 7:41 pm on Saturday, June 15, 2019 on Hwy 5 North of Brent, Al. As a Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Brian Venable, age 43, from Bessemer. During the traffic stop Brian Venable attempted to flee and injured the deputy in the process. Shots were fired, and both the suspect and the deputy were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Both have been released from the hospital and suspect was immediately taken into custody. Suspect is currently in the Bibb County Jail and charged with Criminal Mischief, Reckless endangerment, Possession of Controlled Substance, Drug Paraphernalia, Attempted to Elude, and Attempted Murder. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing.”
Look for more reports from the Bibb Voice as we follow up on this investigation.
