Tei Ti Taimi, left, and Jason Stevens, right
CULLMAN – The Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) on Saturday afternoon announced charges against the two men who were the subjects of an hours-long manhunt late Friday into early Saturday morning in the community of Walter. Tei Ti Taimi has been charged with (failure to appear) third-degree burglary (two counts), second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Jason Stevens, who was allegedly driving the truck the two men originally took off in, was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, three counts of reckless endangerment, attempting to elude and endangering the welfare of a child.
The CCSO said more charges may be pending. Both men are being held without bond in the Cullman County Detention Center.
Taimi and Stevens were captured just after 4 a.m. Saturday morning following a manhunt that began around 4:30 p.m. Friday following an incident at Taimi's home in the 10000 block of U.S. Highway 278 in Holly Pond.
According to Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, deputies were at the home following up on an investigation into a burglary that happened earlier Friday. He said in the course of the visit, Taimi and the other suspect, now identified as Stevens, barricaded themselves in the house, then were in a vehicle in the garage. While deputies spoke to the suspects from the outside of the garage, the suspects rammed through the garage from the inside and struck multiple CCSO vehicles with their truck. During this time, there was gunfire. Gentry could not say who fired the shots, but did say he believed no one was injured. The suspects then fled in the truck, and some time later wrecked at Alabama Highway 91 and fled on foot in the Walter community.
With Taimi and Stevens were also Taimi's two minor children. The children were located at approximately 1:15 a.m., according to the CCSO. They were safe. After they were located, they were brought to the sheriff's office. The CCSO would not give details on where or how the children were located.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the shooting, because it potentially involves an officer.
About the shooting, Gentry said in a press conference Friday night, "The officer was not hurt. We have been making contact with the suspect. He has talked fine, so we do not believe that anyone was struck."
The sheriff said Taimi was arrested on unrelated burglary charges in the same community a few weeks ago.
Below is the full video of Sheriff's Gentry's press conference Friday night.
Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
