A Calera man is in custody after a high-speed chase through northern Chilton County yesterday morning ended in Jemison.

Billy Sherrell Ray, 32, is facing charges of criminal mischief, resisting arrest, attempting to elude an officer and reckless endangerment.

Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis said the incident began on County Road 133 when one of his deputies was patrolling and noticed a suspicious incident involving the suspect. The deputy checked the tag information on the suspect’s vehicle and discovered that the suspect had multiple outstanding warrants, mostly on failure to appear charges.

The deputy tried to stop the vehicle, but it fled the scene down County Road 42 to Alabama Highway 191 and into downtown Jemison.

During the chase, the vehicle left the roadway and attempted to elude authorities in a field. It was here that the deputy collided with the suspect’s vehicle as an attempt to stop the suspect, but the chase continued.

The suspect and a female riding with him left the vehicle, and both were taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. Davis said the female was released at the scene and does not face any charges.

“There was very light damage to our vehicle and the suspect’s vehicle — just a few scratches,” Davis said. “The deputy did that to try to stop the suspect. Since the vehicles weren’t on the roadway and were in a field, it didn’t endanger any bystanders or other drivers.”

Davis thanked the Jemison Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of the suspect.

“The officers showed great professionalism, and thankfully, no one was injured,” Davis said.

Ray is one of the suspects charged with the January 2008 arson of Providence No. 1 Baptist Church. He was out on bond for those charges at the time of the arrest.