A Carrollton couple is facing multiple charges in connection with an alleged carjacking and police chase that ended with a crash Tuesday afternoon.
Carrollton Police Chief Joel Richards said the couple was at their Adamson Avenue residence when authorities were called about a fire around 2 p.m. When fire crews arrived, the couple was asked to stay and answer questions, but they called a cab and left with a child, he said.
When they arrived at an area McDonald's, the woman held a gun to the taxi driver's head and robbed him, Richards told 95.5 FM and AM 750 News/Talk WSB. The couple let the driver go but stole the vehicle, he said.
The cab driver called police, and Bremen authorities located the stolen cab when it entered Interstate 20, Carrollton police Capt. Chris Dobbs said.
The couple allegedly led Bremen police on a chase and into Alabama, where the Alabama Highway Patrol got involved. The cab crashed in Heflin, Ala., and all three people in the vehicle were injured, Dobbs said.
The man, identified as 20-year-old Rodney Dewayne Smith, previously of Birmingham, was treated at a hospital and released into police custody, Richards said. Smith is in the Carroll County jail.
Kimberly Rachel Dugger, 20, also previously of Birmingham, was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Alabama, Richards said.
The 4-year-old child was transported by ambulance to a hospital. There was no immediate word on her condition.
According to Richards, the couple had been living in Carrollton for about a month and Smith allegedly said they were tired of it and wanted to go home.
"We've seen some bizarre stuff, but nothing like this one," Richards told WSB.
Smith is charged with possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and various traffic violations, according to jail records. He was denied bond Wednesday.
Other charges are pending in the case.
The case remains under investigation.
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