Wanted Fugitive Raymond Pruitt Captured

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Wanted, dangerous fugitive Paymond Jerome Pruitt has been captured. He was captured in Pike County by Pike County Sheriffs Office.

He was spotted in the Spring Hill area, which led to a pursuit down Highway 87. The chase ended in a crash.

“At the end of the day, he is in custody and nobody was hurt,” said Troy Police Chief Randall Barr.

Barr said officers received an anonymous tip that Pruitt was in the Springhill area. They found him inside the Sunoco station and observed him leaving the station and entering nearby Southland mobile home park.

Officers attempted a felony traffic stop when Pruitt fled, crashing his vehicle through a chain link fence on Highway 87. “Shots were fired at that scene,” Barr said.

Pruitt’s vehicle crashed into a truck driven by the chief, then he proceeded on Highway 87 towards Enterprise, with multiple officers in pursuit. Barr said speeds reached approximately 100 mph before Pruitt’s vehicle crashed near 6353 Alabama Highway 87. “He attempted to flee the scene, and additional shots were fired before officers subdued him,” Barr said.

The officer-involved shootings are under the investigation of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Barr said a weapon was recovered when Pruitt was arrested. “We believe it to be the handgun used in the armed robberies.”

Pruitt was transferred to Troy Regional Medical Center for observation and was being held. Charges are pending.

Barr said the arrest was a multi-jurisdictional effort, involving officers from the Troy Police Department, Pike County Sheriff’s Department, Troy University and Alabama State Troopers. The incident remains under investigation by the Troy Police Department and the Alabama Bureau of Investigations.

Pruitt had been on a three week crime spree since he was first reported wanted for Domestic Violence Attempted Murder.

Pruitt since been wanted has committed several armed robberies and even committed a murder.

In a development in an Escambia County, Flordia homicide, the suspect in the pictures was identified as 39-year old Raymond Jerome Pruitt, according to investigators.

An active warrant for Pruitt was submitted for the robbery of A&E Food Mart and homicide of store owner Chung Lun Chiang.  Investigators say Pruitt started his crime spree in Montgomery earlier this month. He was wanted in Alabama for attempted murder and several other robbery charges. He was last seen driving a light colored Hyundai Tucson.

The United States Marshal Fugitive Task Force, Ozark Troy Police Department, and the Montgomery Police Department’s Domestic Violence Bureau and Robbery Unit were also searching for Raymond Jerome Pruitt.

Since CrimeStoppers released Pruitt’s name to the media in reference to a Domestic Violence Attempted Murder Investigation on April 11, he implicated several other crimes throughout the River Region.

Troy Police – The Troy Police Department signed Robbery 1st warrants against Pruitt for an armed robbery that occurred at the Marathon on US 231 in Troy, Alabama on Tuesday, April 19, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Pruitt allegedly held the clerk at gunpoint with a silver over black larger caliber handgun. Pruitt left the store walking and had on a red shirt with white writing and blue jeans. A warrant for Robbery 1st has been issued and is entered into NCIC with nationwide extradition.

Ozark Police – The Ozark Police Department signed Robbery 1st warrants against Pruitt for an armed robbery that occurred at the Shell Station on US 231 and Deese Road in Ozark, Alabama on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at approximately 2:52 p.m., Pruitt allegedly held the clerk at gunpoint with a silver over black larger caliber handgun.

Montgomery Police – Pruitt was wanted for questioning in reference to two robberies in Montgomery. On April 21, at 6:42 p.m., Patrol responded to the 4000 block of Atlanta Highway in reference to a business robbery that just occurred. An unknown male subject, wearing a red shirt and black pants, entered the business through the back door, produced an unknown caliber, silver and black handgun, and demanded currency. The complainant advised that she gave the subject assorted U.S. currency. The victims stated that the subject was not wearing a mask or gloves and appeared to have walked to the business. The subject then fled the scene from the rear of the business in an unknown direction.

Pruitt was also wanted for questioning in a business robbery which occurred on April 18 between 2:00-2:21 p.m. at a Gas Station located in the 3000 block of McGehee Rd. The suspect entered the business armed with an unknown caliber, silver and black handgun, and demanded currency. The complainant advised that she gave the subject assorted U.S. currency. The subject fled behind the business towards McGehee Park Apartments.

Charges filed against Pruitt are as follows:

• 8 counts Robbery 1st Degree
• Domestic Violence 1st degree
• Attempted Murder
• Theft of Property 1st degree
• Murder