Local
Update: Truck driver killed in struggle with deputy
The man that was shot and killed Saturday during a struggle with a Lee County Sheriff's deputy in Beulah, Ala., has been identified as John Derrick Johnson, 29, of Opelika.
Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said no other details regarding the incident are being released at this time.
Sheriff Jay Jones said one of his deputies stopped a pickup truck driver about 5:30 p.m. on County Road 270 for a traffic violation. The driver, who's name is expected to be released this afternoon, and the deputy pulled into the parking lot of a compactor dump station off the roadway, Jones said.
The deputy and the driver got into a scuffle and the driver attempted to flee. As he got in his truck, the deputy tried to stop him. Somehow the deputy got caught in the driver's door and was dragged through the parking lot and into the road.
The deputy fired upon the driver, striking him. He was then able to free himself from the vehicle, Jones said.
The vehicle crossed the roadway, hit a ditch and came to a stop in the tree-line on the opposite side of County Road 270.
The deputy was treated and released from East Alabama Medical Center. He is on administrative leave, Jones said.
The incident is under investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.
"We feel like the deputy reacted in an appropriate manner based on the circumstances, but we will reserve any other comments until after the completion of the ABI's investigation. We are cooperating fully with the ABI
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