The Walker County Sheriff’s Office received a call Thursday from a concerned family member of a Carbon Hill man.
The caller stated that Anthony “Tony” Mitchell had made statements to them that raised concern, insinuating that Mitchell may harm himself or others.
Deputies from our Patrol Division responded to the scene to perform a welfare check on the individual.
When deputies arrived, they observed Mitchell in the front yard of the residence. Mitchell immediately brandished a handgun, and fired at least one shot at deputies before retreating into a wooded area behind his home. A call of “shots fired” was announced, and all available assistance was en route.
Coincidentally, the call came over the radio as the sheriff’s office SWAT unit was finishing a training exercise. Immediately, the SWAT unit, Patrol, Narcotics, and Investigative Divisions, Sheriff Nick Smith, and others were en route to the scene.
SWAT established and secured a perimeter around the home. The Walker County District Attorney’s Office was made aware of the situation, and they worked quickly to secure a warrant for Mitchell with a charge of Attempted Murder. Investigators also began to track his cell phone location and interviewed family members near the scene.
During the investigation, the Aviation Division was deployed, along with the Alabama Department of Corrections K9 Unit from Donaldson Correctional Facility. Aviation Commander Ray Capps and Deputy/Pilot Cody Waldrop spotted a large metal structure in the woods just north of the residence. Mitchell’s family members informed law enforcement that he would possibly be hiding in that structure.
After the warrant was obtained, SWAT Commander Tony Reid led his men into the residence and cleared it without locating Mitchell.
They then turned their attention toward the shelter mentioned previously, still unsure if Mitchell would be hiding in the woods watching them.
As the SWAT Unit converged onto the structure in the woods, they deployed a distraction device to divert the attention of Mitchell in case he was in the building. They spotted Mitchell in the building and were able to take him into custody while he was disoriented. He was immediately checked out by Regional Paramedical Services, who had staged at the scene with law enforcement.
Anthony Mitchell, 33, of Carbon Hill, was booked into the Walker County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder. During the investigation, deputies also recovered Methamphetamine, heroin and a handgun from the location.
“This situation could have ended much differently if it weren’t for the constant training of our department, incredible work by our dispatchers, assistance from other agencies, and the quick help of District Attorney Bill Adair’s Office. Thankfully, the day ended with everyone safe,” Smith said.
