On Sunday, June 20, 2021, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a female reporting that Austin Dean Allen had stopped by her home in Cottonwood Alabama and made statements indicating he planned to harm himself.
Allen was reportedly armed with a .45 semi-automatic pistol at the time and refused to relinquish the weapon to the female.
The Houston County Alabama Sheriff’s Office and the Seminole County Georgia Sheriff’s Office responded to their respective state lines in an effort to locate Mr. Allen to check his well-being after a phone ping indicated he was near the Florida, Georgia, Alabama state intersect. A Houston County Deputy encountered Allen in the rental vehicle described by the female caller.
A short pursuit was discontinued after it entered Jackson County and the Houston County Deputy lost sight of the suspect vehicle.
Sometime later, a JCSO Deputy contacted the rental car company and learned that their vehicles are equipped with a tracking device. Within minutes Law Enforcement was receiving real time information on the exact whereabouts of the suspect vehicle in the Cypress area.
A Deputy overtook the vehicle on Express Rd. and observed it as it traveled onto Birchwood Rd. and eventually Hwy 69 northbound. A roadblock was attempted on Hwy 69 at Shady Grove Rd. The suspect drove around the patrol cars and sped north on Porter Ave. He ran the red light at Hwy 90 at a high rate of speed and continued on Hwy 69 until he reached Greenwood.
Between Grand Ridge and Greenwood the suspect drove in the on-coming lane of traffic at a very high rate of speed causing vehicles to swerve into the ditch to avoid a collision. Once he reached Greenwood, Mr. Allen turned north on Hwy 71 and continued to drive into on-coming traffic at a high rate of speed until he reached Malone, where he turned east on Hwy 2.
After passing Basswood Rd. he turned back west on McAnulty Rd., where he drove on the unimproved dirt roads at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. The suspect turned east on Biscayne Rd., crossed Gemstone Rd., Grove Rd., and Gordon Rd. before turning north on Ralph Rd. After crossing into Alabama, Ralph Rd. becomes Bristol Rd. The suspect traveled down Bristol until it makes a 90 degree left and intersects Oscar Helms Rd. in Houston County.
He then turned south on Oscar Helms Rd. traveling back into Jackson County. Once he reached the intersection of Robinson Rd. and Gordon Rd. he came in contact with family members parked in the road. He stopped the vehicle and surrendered without further incident. Subsequent to arrest he was searched and the loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol was found in his waistband covered by his shirt. Mr.
Allen does not possess a concealed carry permit in Florida or any other state recognized by Florida. He was lodged in the Jackson County Correctional Facility to await first appearance charged with Aggravated Fleeing or Eluding, Reckless Driving, and Carrying a Concealed Firearm without a Permit.
Austin Dean Allen, Male 31 Years of Age, Bascom Florida
