Man dead after struggle with trooper

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Melvin Allen, Jr. is dead after leading an Alabama state trooper on a high speed car chase that ended with a struggle.

Orange paint marks the scene where Allen, Jr. and the state trooper left their vehicles and had a heated altercation.

"I came in and there were police officers, and state troopers, and they had the streets all blocked off," Lazetta Smith said.

Before trying to get away from troopers, officials said Allen, Jr. was involved in a crime in Prichard. Authorities said an armed suspect carjacked a victim at a gas station on St. Stephens Road, then took off.

"The vehicle came up as a stolen vehicle," Cpl. Steve Smith said.

Smith said a state trooper first spotted the suspect on Schillinger Road and tried to stop him for speeding, but the suspect didn't obey. Instead, he led troopers on a chase at speeds of more than 100 mph.

"From the time the pursuit initiated from the time it was over was approximately 15 minutes," Smith added.

A lot took place in that short amount of time. Troopers said the 26-year-old suspect turned into a neighborhood and stopped near Carlisle and Scottsdale Drives.

"The suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. The trooper caught the guy and a struggle ensued. After the trooper affected the arrest and back up was on scene, it was determined that the suspect needed medical attention," Smith said.

Allen was taken to Providence Hospital, where he died. While questions of force used and cause of death still linger, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is trying to get to the bottom of it.

The trooper had superficial injuries and is currently on administrative leave.

Allen's body was taken to the Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy.