Man arrested for escaping police custody after being falsely accused of robbery

DECATUR, Alabama (WHNT) – A man who escaped from police custody has now been rearrested after engaging officers in a chase in Decatur on Monday.

According to the Decatur Police Department (DPD), officers responded to a reported robbery at the SpeedZ gas station at 1202 West Moulton Street. DPD says a person told them they were robbed by a man with a handgun sitting in a black car next to the store’s gas pumps.

Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle matching the description of the black car. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Brandon Edwards, led officers on a chase, committing several traffic violations along the way. He eventually fled his vehicle on foot before being taken into custody by patrol officers.

Edwards was arrested and charged with:

• Escape and attempted escape
• Resisting arrest
• Reckless endangerment
• Multiple traffic violations.

According to DPD, Edwards escaped from custody and left the area after being taken to the Decatur Police Department for further questioning in connection with the robbery investigation.

Officers then located Edwards in the area of ​​Harborview Court NorthEast for a short time. Detectives were then contacted and the matter was reopened for investigation.

After further investigation, officers determined that the robbery did not occur and a false report had been filed. Edwards was additionally charged with third-degree escape and remanded to the Morgan County Jail on $31,800 bail.

According to DPD, Edwards had multiple arrest warrants from various agencies at the time of the chase, which are expected to be executed once bail is posted on the original charges.

Additional charges are pending and more arrests are expected as a result of the falsely reported robbery.