A Georgia man who was dropped off at a Leeds Buc-ee’s by law enforcement ended up stealing an SUV, sparking a chaotic police chase that spanned multiple jurisdictions and ended in a crash.
A Bizarre Start at Buc-ee’s
It wasn’t a typical start to the day at the bustling Buc-ee’s in Leeds. Early Friday morning, 33-year-old Kujuan Prince Ash of Lawrenceville, Georgia, arrived — courtesy of another law enforcement agency. Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin called the drop-off “unfortunate,” noting that Ash wasn’t identified or charged at the time.
Ash didn’t waste time. By 6:30 a.m., he had jumped into an occupied Toyota 4-Runner parked at a gas pump and forcibly took off with it. The driver managed to escape without injury, but the SUV — and Ash — were gone.
The Chase Begins
Police quickly spotted the stolen vehicle near the Interstate 20/59 junction. What followed was a high-speed pursuit involving multiple agencies, including Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Alabaster police, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
The chase zigzagged through highways and backroads, ending with a crash near Interstate 65 and U.S. 31. Ash, undeterred, bolted on foot. Officers caught him moments later.
More Than Just Car Theft
It turns out the SUV wasn’t Ash’s only crime that morning. Investigators say he stole items from inside Buc-ee’s, tried to break into two other parked vehicles, and gave officers a fake name when he was finally caught.
Leeds Police, with help from the University of Alabama Police Department, later confirmed his true identity.
Ash is now facing a laundry list of charges, including:
- First-degree theft of property
- Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle by force
- Attempting to elude
- First-degree criminal mischief
- Obstruction of justice using a false identity
- Third-degree theft of property
- Two counts of attempted unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle
- Third-degree retail theft
The Police Chief Speaks Out
Chief Irwin didn’t hold back, criticizing the agency that dropped Ash off without properly identifying or charging him.
“We must all work together to protect the public regardless of jurisdiction,” he said. Irwin emphasized the danger Ash posed to the community, calling the situation preventable.
“We’re fortunate no one was hurt — but it could’ve ended differently,” he added.
