DECATUR, AL (WAFF) -
An armed robbery left three people at large after a dramatic showdown with the Hillsboro police chief.
Decatur Police said a victim was robbed of cash at gunpoint near the intersection of 10th Avenue Northwest and Third Street around 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Trinity, Hillsboro and North Courtland Police began a car chase for the three people.
Hillsboro Police Chief Michael Taylor said officers drew weapons, possibly startling the driver of the vehicle, causing the driver to veer off the road into the median.
"I pointed my weapon, and I think they thought I was going to shoot, though I had no intention of actually doing that," Taylor said. "They jumped out of the car, and I mean jumped out."
Taylor said he leapt into the car to prevent it from rolling into traffic; the three people ran off into a field.
After a lengthy search, Decatur police called it off around 8 p.m.
A MAC-10 submachine gun and a 30-round clip were recovered near the suspects' vehicle, believed by police to have been dropped as they fled.
Taylor said the vehicle was impounded, and North Courtland officers have developed identities of the suspects based on information taken from the vehicle.
That information has not yet been released.
Police said the robbery may have been drug-related.
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An armed robbery left three people at large Friday night after a dramatic showdown with the Hillsboro police chief.
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