CENTRE — On Sept. 14 at approximately 11:24 a.m., Central Dispatch notified the Centre Police Department that three suspicious vehicles had been seen in the Bay Springs Road area. According to initial reports, there were three passengers inside the vehicles, all armed with handguns. 

The report also placed the vehicles – identified as a black GMC Yukon, a gray Chevrolet Tahoe, and a green and tan Ford Explorer — at a trailer behind Shiloh Church.  

According to a statement released Thursday by the Centre Police Department several officers, including Chief of Police Val Courtney, officer Brent Grimes and Investigator Randy Mayorga made their way to the area and spotted the gray SUV behind the trailer. 

Officers cleared the vehicle and searched the immediate area. According to the statement, as Courtney and two other officers were assessing the situation, a car pulled up containing a local informant, who told the officers he had seen the handguns. All units then continued to search for the other vehicles and subjects.  

A short time later, Chief Courtney intercepted one of the remaining vehicles on West Main Street as it turned onto Bay Springs Road and turned to follow. As he called for other units, the subjects turned onto a dead-end street before bailing out the vehicle and taking off on foot. 

Courtney and other officers quickly cleared and secured the SUV.  

At that point, officers from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s office, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and the Cedar Bluff Police Department joined the search for the subjects.

Shortly thereafter, Mayorga and DA’s investigator Gary Williams intercepted two African-American males on Jackson Street. It was determined through questioning that they had been in the Ford Explorer.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the Explorer had been stolen in Gadsden the previous night. Also found in the Explorer was a semi-automatic pistol.  

According to one report, the Career and Technology Center on Chesnut Bypass and Centre Elementary School on East Main Street were placed on lockdown until the search was completed.

The two suspects were transported to the 1:place w:st="on"> Cherokee County Detention Center as all units continued to search for the third suspect, who was never located. 

One of the suspects turned out to be a juvenile, who was released to his parents after interview. The other suspect, Christopher Antonio Leach, was charged with receiving stolen property first degree and unlawfully carrying a pistol. 

The investigation into the identity of the third suspect is ongoing.