Chainsaws thrown at Ala. police pursuing robbery suspects

DEMOPOLIS, Ala. (AP) – Police say robbery suspects threw chainsaws at police who chased their getaway van from Demopolis to Selma.

Demopolis Police Chief Tommie Reese says an officer was on patrol early Thursday morning and heard a store’s alarm going off. Reese says the officer saw a white van fleeing the store’s parking lot and chased it along a highway.

Authorities say the van’s occupants threw chainsaws and other items that may have been stolen from the store at police during the pursuit.

Reese says the chase ended in Selma and a 57-year-old Birmingham man was arrested on charges of burglary, receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools and attempting to elude police.

Authorities say a second suspect fled on foot. Reese says the van the men were riding in was also stolen.