Woman arrested after police chase and standoff in central Alabama

AUTAUGA COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) – A high-speed chase and subsequent standoff with police ended with the suspect's arrest Friday afternoon in northern Autauga County, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency now confirms.

Choima Agurd, 39, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Detention Center where she is being held on a felony charge of attempting to evade charges. Agurd also has warrants from the Bellaire Police Department in Texas for aggravated assault on a family member with a weapon and aggravated assault on a police officer, ALEA confirmed. Bellaire is near Houston.

The incident began around noon when ALEA Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop the 2022 Mercedes SUV Agurd was driving near Montgomery. The driver refused to stop, prompting multiple police units to pursue her northbound on Interstate 65. The chase ended about 20 miles north of its starting point near the 192 mile marker.

ALEA's Highway Patrol Division, State Bureau of Investigation special agents, SWAT, Hostage Negotiation Unit, Aviation Unit and sheriff's deputies from the Autauga and Chilton County Sheriff's Office all assisted in the pursuit, standoff and arrest. ALEA confirmed that Agurd was the only person in the vehicle.

During the ensuing standoff, ALEA closed the highway for more than two hours. The road has now been reopened.

As traffic came to a standstill, numerous commuters close to the scene began sharing their photos and videos with WSFA 12 News. Some showed numerous police officers, others with weapons drawn and aimed during the tense situation.

A bystander, Cathy Cartier, recorded a video of Agurd being taken into custody.

Another bystander, Hunter Reese, shared video of the chase with WBRC before the pursuit ended. Several ALEA State Troopers could be seen traveling at high speeds on the highway.

Onlooker Harvey Maxwell was on an overpass with a clear view of the developing situation and took several photos from an elevated position.

Another bystander, Kelsi Owens, was the passenger in a vehicle traveling north when the situation brought traffic to a standstill. Owens' vision allowed her to see numerous police officers gathered off the roadway and an embankment near a tree line.

Owens shared videos and photos of the situation.

Owens' video confirmed multiple reports that the state had deployed its ALEA helicopter to the area in addition to several law enforcement officers.

A WSFA 12 News crew that was on scene was passed on the rescue trail by heavy police vehicles that were on scene.

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