By Daniel L. Bamberg
Daniel@Centrevillepress.com
44-year-old Chris Ballard of Montevallo, has apparently stolen headlines in more ways than one. He certainly made a commotion in Brent, as the U.S. Marshal federal fugitive task force chased him into the county on Tuesday, February 23rd.
Ballard is believed to have stolen more than 100 newspaper boxes in Jefferson County. According to U.S. Marshal Marty Keely, the alleged paper-box thief had been under surveillance by Deputy Marshals. After police attempted to stop him, Ballard began fleeing on U.S. Highway 11 and was eventually being pursued by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement officials from Brent, Centreville, Tuscaloosa, and West Blocton. Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Department also provided the assistance of a helicopter.
When Ballard passed a school bus he was believed to be traveling in excess of 90 miles per hour. At another point, Ballard made a dangerous U-turn, which forced some police off of the road. Eventually Ballard made his way onto U.S. Highway 5. This would prove to be his last stand. Not long thereafter Ballard’s vehicle (a green sport-utility vehicle) veered off the road near the Highway 219 junction, onto an embankment where it remained stuck.
The suspect was then arrested by Marshals and taken to the Jefferson County Jail. According to Marshal Keely other police departments may have questions for Ballard as newspaper box thefts have also been reported in other counties. Before the high-speed chase Ballard had an outstanding warrant for theft of a newspaper box in Birmingham.
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