Shot fired by police during morning arrest of wanted woman; suspect not injured

A shot was fired by police Monday during the arrest of a woman wanted on several outstanding warrants.

The West Alabama Narcotics Task Force was trying to arrest the woman about 10:45 a.m. when she fled in a vehicle.

Task force officers, as well as Tuscaloosa police patrol officers, began searching the area for the suspect, identified Monday night as 37-year-old Leia Darby. The vehicle was located a short time later in the back yard of a residence in the 1300 Block of Montclair Circle, said Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Capt. Jack Kennedy.

Several Tuscaloosa officers approached the suspect’s vehicle on foot. The suspect, Kennedy said, attempted to flee again, and began driving out of the yard in the direction of the officers.

One officer fired a handgun, and one officer fired a non-lethal bean bag round at the vehicle.

The vehicle stopped and Darby was taken into custody.

She was charged with one count of attempting to elude law enforcement and one count of reckless endangerment, Kennedy said. Bail on the charges was set at $12,000.

Darby also had multiple outstanding warrants with no bond for failing to appear or comply with court on other previous charges.

Kennedy said she sustained minor injuries but was not struck by a bullet or projectile.

The Violent Crimes Unit was called out to investigate the incident. Investigators and supervisors not affiliated with the Tuscaloosa Police Department will conduct the investigation.

The investigation is still ongoing, Kennedy said, and more will be released information may be released later.