SUMMERDALE, Ala. (WPMI) - Summerdale's Police Chief is recovering after he was injured while apprehending a suspect. Chief Eddie Ingram will go into surgery Saturday.
"All this is tore loose right here, " said Ingram who now suffers from a torn knee ligament and a fractured femur in his left leg.
Ingram says his leg was crushed when the suspect, 6 foot 2, 240 pound Ray Middleton resisted arrest. "He knew what he was doing. He did it intentionally. He's going to pay the price for it one way or another, " said Ingram.
Middleton has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1995. He's been arrested 63 times. U.S. Marshals wanted him for failing to register as a sex offender stemming from a rape conviction involving a 14-year-old girl. Middleton was arrested at this trailer park last night. "He just got out of prison in June. He's muscled up and as we're escorting him he basically planted his feet in a tackling stance collapsed his arms. Chief Ingram and I had him on the other side. He just began kicking and attempting to punch. He then fell directly on top of Chief Ingram, " said Major Trent Dennis.
"I pray for this individual. He's got two choices. We either need to lock him up and throw away the key or he needs to turn his life around. He's had every opportunity in the world but this guy has no respect for anyone including himself," said Ingram.
Ingram now faces two sets of surgeries and a long recovery. "I'd rather this happened to me than any of my boys. They are a lot younger and I've had a good career if it does end it. I hope it doesn't but if it does," said Ingram.
The district attorney is asking for no bond. Middleton was booked in the Baldwin County jail late Friday afternoon.
