Tei Ti Taimi, left, and Jason Stevens, right
LATEST: http://www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/01/13/2-suspects-hours-long-manhunt-charged-more-charges-pending
Updated 1-13-18 4:18 a.m.
The suspects, Tei Ti Taimi and the now-identified Jason Stevens, have been located and arrested.
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Updated 1-13-18 1:15 a.m.
According to the Cullman County Sheriff's Office, the two children have been located and are safe. They are being brought to the sheriff's office.
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Updated 1-13-18 12:52 a.m.
The suspects remain at large.
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Updated 1-12-18 10 p.m.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said in a press briefing a short while ago that the suspect in the shooting is still at large, and that there are two suspects, not one. One suspect has been identified as Tei Ti Taimi, 36. Gentry said there is one minor with the suspects, possibly two minors. Gentry said Taimi is the father and the custodial parent of the child (children). Gentry descirbed the second suspect as a white male.
The sheriff gave a more detailed picture of what transpired at Taimi's home on U.S. 278 at approximately 4 p.m. He said 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 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 did strike 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.
Gentry advised residents in the Walter community to be aware that the suspects are in the area. He said people should lock their doors and pay attention to suspicious activity such as barking dogs and call the sheriff's office if they suspect suspicious activity. The number to the sheriff's office is 256-734-0342.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate due to the possibility of an officer-involved shooting.
About the shooting, Gentry said, "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."
Gentry said there has been contact made with Taimi through a family member and that the sheriff's office is trying to get Taimi to turn himself in.
The sheriff said Taimi was arrested on unrelated burglary charges in the same community a few weeks ago.
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Updated 1-12-18 8:24 p.m.
A spokesman from the Cullman County Sheriff's Office has just told The Tribune that while he originally stated that the shooting happened near County Road 783 and U.S. Highway 278, the incident actually occurred in the 10000 block of U.S. 278, directly across the road from Pleasant View Baptist Church in Holly Pond, which is located at 10751 U.S. 278. The spokesman said the chase took them toward the CR 783 and 278 location.
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Updated 1-12-18 7:55 p.m.
The suspect is still at large. Sheriff Matt Gentry will be holding a press conference tonight. Look for it to be streamed live on The Tribune's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CullmanTribune.
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Updated 1-12-18 5:42 p.m.
The Cullman County Sheriff's Office is looking for Tei Ti Taimi (PICTURED), 36, a suspect in tonight's shooting. He is believed to be in the Walter/Alabama Highway 91 area. He was last seen wearing a black motorcycle jacket and gray hoodie.
Please call the CCSO at 256-734-0342 if you come into contact with this subject or know where he might be.
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HOLLY POND – Authorities are on the scene of a reported shooting in the Holly Pond community in the area of County Road 783 and U.S. Highway 278. The incident happened within the last hour.
According to a source within the CCSO, a deputy was allegedly shot at, but was not hit. Deputies chased the suspect, who is on foot off of Alabama Highway 91 and may have his 10-year-old daughter with him. The source said it is unknown why the suspect fired; the deputy had been on the scene for a follow-up interview. The source also said that dogs are en route to track the suspect.
This is a developing story.
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