Police Chase Suspect To Be Charged With Attempted Murder, Also Charged With Battery On Three Officers

February 25, 2021

A 73-year old man is charged with battery on three offices in Florida, and now police say he will be charged attempted murder of an officer in Alabama. The man was involved ina police chase from Atmore ended in Escambia County, Florida, Wednesday afternoon.

Lem Roy Sanders of Atmore was booked into the Escambia County (FL) Jail on three felony counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. His bond was set at $150,000. Once extradited from Florida, Sanders will be charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of fleeing and attempted to elude in Alabama.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Wednesday afternoon, the Atmore Police Department responded to United Bank on West Nashville Avenue for a report of a man being disorderly and refusing to leave the premises. Officers arrived and attempted to speak to Sanders as he was sitting in his a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

“When officers approached the suspect vehicle, the driver then fled away nearly striking an officer with the vehicle,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said, and officers gave chase.

Once the vehicle crossed the state line, Sanders turned into the parking lot of the the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville, about 1,500 feet south of the state line. In the parking lot, he allegedly struck an unmarked pickup truck occupied by three Atmore Police Department officers that were involved in the chase.

“APD officers then forcibly entered the vehicle by breaking out the driver’s side window to remove the driver from the vehicle,” Brooks said.

Sanders was evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS but not transported to the hospital. He was arrested in the parking lot by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office. The pickup truck he was driving was seized by the ECSO.

For a photo gallery, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Police Chase Suspect To Be Charged With Attempted Murder, Also Charged With Battery On Three Officers”

  1. Doll on February 26th, 2021 10:30 am

    @ Sad………..It is very sad, but there is and has been a mental problem.
    @SueB……….The Issues have been for many years addressed. IF Mr. Sanders does not take his medication, he will have such episodes. Once Mr. Sanders is back on his medication, he IS a very nice man. I was a preteen when I first met him and now I am I n my 50’s and know him well.
    He is well respected in the community because he does not bother anyone and will help you if he feel that you aren’t trying to use him.
    So we hope and pray that this is not the end of the line for him and he can get the help that he desperately need right now.

  2. Sad on February 26th, 2021 3:24 am

    @AC… he only hit their truck after they went around in front of him and cut him off in the parking lot.

    I’ve done business Mr. Sanders and talked to him quite a bit. I helped him out on a couple of things, and he was good to deal with. But the last several times I talked with him, I could tell he was losing it. Schizophrenia, paranoia, senility, dementia… idk… something. Whatever it is, when he was alright, I had some good conversations with him, and he seemed like a nice man… so I’d really hate to see him thrown in prison at his old age, because he is having mental issues. It’ll be the end of the road for him…

  3. SueB on February 25th, 2021 1:39 pm

    @Lee if you knew this man had mental problems, why haven’t you reported to the Police Dept., Mental Health, Pastor, etc.

  4. AC on February 25th, 2021 12:05 pm

    From the story:
    “Wednesday afternoon, the Atmore Police Department responded to United Bank on West Nashville Avenue…” (that’s in Atmore), “…a police chase from Atmore ended in Escambia County, Florida…” Reading comprehension is your friend, Mr. Elrod.

    @Lee: “He will not harm anyone.” Really?!? He almost ran over police officers and rammed their vehicle while they were inside. If that’s harmless then I would hate to see someone who is intentionally trying to harm someone. He may have mental issues, but that does not make him harmless (obviously).

  5. Clarence Couch on February 25th, 2021 11:44 am

    We were at rhw Post office in Atmore when that happened ( we saw 4-5 Police vehicles speeding South with lights and sirens) and then we went straight to Piggly Wiggly and saw the commotion.

  6. Lee on February 25th, 2021 11:41 am

    The man has a mental issue every since I’ve known him..The olders cops would have known..Jesus help this man.He will not harm anyone.He must be off of his meds..Jesus!!!!
    .

  7. Just so you know on February 25th, 2021 8:49 am

    For those curious, just because a Law Enforcement vehicle displays a certain County/Parish or State on the sticker (Or Non marked) does not mean they are not allowed across the state lines. Their jurisdiction is in that specific location, but all LEO’s are certified nationwide in certain aspects of their jobs. And all Law enforcement agencies work together regardless of that imaginary state line. Since the chase started in Atmore, Atmore has jurisdiction of the case regardless of the state line. Hope this helps.

    Retired LEO :)

  8. ensley boy on February 25th, 2021 7:56 am

    ….Elrod… Tell your friend the chase started in Atmore as it says in the statements above.

  9. Good Question.. on February 25th, 2021 7:14 am

    John Elrod had a point. What were 3 Atmore ALABAMA police doing in an unmarked truck in Florida? Something just don’t sound right about that…… js

  10. John Elrod on February 24th, 2021 9:36 pm

    Why was there three Atmore police in an unmarked truck in Florida? Asking for a friend.
    Atmore police should be in Atmore Alabama, not in an unmarked in Florida.

  11. Sad on February 24th, 2021 8:33 pm

    I know Mr. Sanders and the last time I saw him, he didn’t seem to be doing too well. I really hope he has a chance to get checked out for some senility type ailments and they don’t just throw him in jail.

  12. Deborah Daugherty on February 24th, 2021 7:20 pm

    Hope you don’t get too much time considering your age….

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