City officer shoots suspect following altercation

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
A Russellville police officer avoided injury Wednesday morning following an exchange of gunfire that left a county man in the hospital.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said deputies responded to a suspicious person call near Hometown Pharmacy on Gandy Street just before 5 a.m. Wednesday.
When officers approached a man and woman walking along Gandy Street in front of Concord Baptist Church officers noticed something suspicious in the man's pocket.
The man then proceeded to run from officers and fired one shot at them.
One of the officers fired back, striking the man in the lower chest area.
He was taken to Russellville Hospital and later flown to Huntsville Hospital.
Authorities have identified the man as Steven Jeffrey Cain, 47, who lives at 3642 Franklin 20 in Spruce Pine.
Police said Cain underwent surgery Wednesday morning and is now out of the facility's intensive care unit.
Cain was charged with attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm and second-degree attempted burglary.
Police also arrested Regina Renee Cansler, 37, of 3642 Franklin 20 in Spruce Pine. Cansler was charged with third-degree attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.
Reports indicate Cain pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery in connection with the Nov. 28, 2007, robbery of Elgin Pharmacy in Lauderdale County in 2008 but failed to attend a court sentencing.
He is also a suspect in last month's robbery of a Phil Campbell drug store in which the suspect there fired nine times at a town police officer. He is also a suspect in a recent Hackleburg residential burglary.
Hargett said he expects federal charges to be filed against Cain in the coming days. If he is linked to the Phil Campbell drug store break-in, he would face an attempted murder charges there as well.
Wednesday's altercation occurred when officers spotted Cain and Cansler walking down Gandy Street. Officers had been called when someone nearby saw the two near Hometown Pharmacy.
"They told him repeatedly to take his hands out of his pocket and he finally took one hand out and continued backing up," Hargett said.
Officers then tased Cain but it had little effect. He began running away and stopped behind Concord Baptist Church and fired at the officers.
A Russellville officer returned fire, striking Cain in the lower chest area.
"We feel confident that it was justified and the officer did what he was supposed to do," Hargett said.