PHOTO: 42 year-old Brett Littlejohn (42 of Cedar Bluff) was shot by a Cherokee County Deputy yesterday while attempting to flee arrest on Highway 273. (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)
By Staff Reports
LEESBURG, Ala. — According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, a man is in custody after an officer involved shooting occurred yesterday near Leesburg.
The incident happened around 3 pm on Alabama Highway 273, and an investigation is underway, which is standard procedure after any officer involved shooting.
Brett Littlejohn (42 of Cedar Bluff) allegedly attempted to flee during a traffic stop; dragging a Cherokee County Deputy with him, who had reached into the vehicle to attempt to apprehend Littlejohn.
During the stop, it was discovered Littlejohn had a warrant for his arrest.
According to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver, the deputy used a taser on Littlejohn before shooting him to stop the vehicle.
Littlejohn was airlifted from Leesburg Town Hall to UAB, and is currently charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Attempting to flee a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Second Degree Assault, and revoked bond.
According to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver: "An officer-involved shooting investigation is underway in Cherokee County. Around3:00 pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, while performing a traffic stop on Alabama Highway 273, deputies learned of a warrant for the driver, Brett Littlejohn, 42, of Cedar Bluff, and attempted to arrest him. As the deputy reached into the vehicle to apprehend the man, the suspect attempted to flee, with the deputy dangling out of the window. While being dragged several hundred feet, the deputy managed to tase the suspect three times, attempting to stop the man and be freed from the vehicle. The Taser had no effect, and the deputy was forced to shoot the suspect to stop the vehicle. The suspect was airlifted to UAB Hospital and was treated and released.
He was transported by deputies to the Cherokee County Detention Center late Wednesday night on charges of second degree assault, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and resisting arrest.
According the Sheriff Shaver, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division and the JSU Center for Applied Forensics is investigating the incident. Upon completion of the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office will review it. Sheriff Shaver stated, “We are thankful our deputies were not injured or killed while performing their duty today.”
