Deputy assaulted in bath salts case

A Winston County man was arrested this weekend after going on a drug-induced spree that included assaulting law enforcement officers and leading them on a chase through the woods.
Jeffrey Brian Davis, Jr., 18, 12834 Alabama 278, Double Springs, was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and attempting to elude, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.
According to Oliver, deputies received a disturbance call at a residence on Franklin 63 late Saturday evening.
Oliver said Davis arrived at the home of a 26-year-old coworker to look at a shotgun the coworker was trying to sell, but witnesses said when Davis arrived, he was intoxicated and agitated.
After entering the home, witnesses stated Davis started trying to fight his coworker and then headed for a bedroom at the back of the house where the coworker’s children were located.
Oliver said when the coworker’s 22-year-old pregnant wife stepped in the way to prevent him from getting to the children, he reportedly struck her with his fist.
“At this point, we’re told Davis grabbed a gun and started to threaten the victims,” Oliver said. “The male victim managed to detain Davis and move him towards the door, but Davis ended up hitting him with his fists several times.”
Oliver said as the two were scuffling, they fell out the door of the residence and the victim was able to get back inside and lock the doors before calling law enforcement.
Oliver said as deputies arrived at the residence, Davis was fleeing the scene but they were able to corner him at Franklin 63 and Herring Cross Road before he eventually fled into the woods.
“Deputies stated that when Davis was running into the woods, he was yelling there was a green dot on him and he was going to be killed,” Oliver said. “He was also shouting obscenities as he ran back and forth in the woods.”
Officers with the Russellville Police Department were called to assist with the arrest.
Once they arrived on the scene, the officers and deputies entered the woods to place him under arrest.
Oliver said Davis was sweating profusely and immediately became hostile towards law enforcement.
“He started resisting when the deputies tried to place him in handcuffs,” Oliver said. “When they finally got him out of the woods, Davis began screaming and kicking at the officers and kicked one deputy in the face.
“Once they gained control of the suspect, he was transported by ambulance to Russellville Hospital for evaluation.”
Oliver said Davis admitted to investigators that he had been shooting up methamphetamine and a drug known as bath salts throughout the day.
“This just goes to show how dangerous using these drugs can be,” Oliver said. “We’ve been hearing about bath salts for some time now at the national level and we’ve now had a few cases around here, but this is the worst one I’ve seen.
“This drug isn’t something that should be messed with, and if we catch anyone using this drug, we will take action immediately because it can cause serious harm to the person using the drug and to anyone who comes in contact with them at the time.
“We’re just thankful no one was seriously injured.”
The injuries sustained by the victims and the deputies were minor and did not require medical treatment.
Davis is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail on a $4,500 bond.