A 25-year-old man, Justin Finklea, was arrested after a traffic stop on October 30 by Tuscaloosa police led to a pursuit that ended in a crash and a brief manhunt.
According to Investigator Jessica McDaniel, spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Finklea faces a charge of first-degree theft of property, with additional charges pending.
The incident began when officers from the Tuscaloosa Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle reported stolen near The Oakley apartment complex. The driver fled, prompting a high-speed chase northbound on Interstate 20/59.
At approximately 2:05 p.m., the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office was alerted about the ongoing pursuit. The chase concluded when the suspect crashed near the Exit 86 ramp.
Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including K-9 units, a drone team, and the Tuscaloosa Police Department air patrol, were deployed to locate the fleeing suspect. After an extensive search, Finklea was found the next morning, October 31, at Mary’s Travel Center and taken into custody.
