Helena Police: Man faces serious charges after nearly hitting tw

A man is facing serious charges tonight after police say he allegedly tried to hit two officers during a high-speed, multi-county chase.

Helena Police say the Shelby County DA has advised them to charge Richard Shane Philpott with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer after Monday's events. An investigator on the case says the police department will obtain these warrants Tuesday morning, and will likely add additional warrants for traffic violations that occurred during the chase.

Police say Philpott was stopped in Bessemer on a misdemeanor narcotics violation and when he fled the scene there, he allegedly nearly hit the officer who had stopped him.

Bessemer Police officers pursued Philpott at speeds that sometimes reached 100 mph. The chase continued through Shelby and Bibb county where additional law enforcement agencies pursued Philpott.

During the chase, Philpott entered Helena, where police say he slowed down and made it appear that he was going to stop. He then took off again, nearly hitting a Helena police officer.

"As our officer exited the vehicle Mr. Philpott turned around and took and a very aggressive motion to try to one over one of our police officers," Detective Chris Rollan with Helena Police said.

Philpott made it to a residential area where he jumped out of his small SUV. The SUV kept rolling and eventually ran into a house. Helena Police say the homeowners were there at the time, but no one was injured.

"Me and the girls were in there dancing around in the living room and we hear what sounds like an earthquake or a tree falls on the house," said Trish Barr who was at the house babysitting Lily and Lydia McBrade. "We walk out there and there's a car out there."

Barr says they then saw police wrestling Philpott to the ground. That's when they realized that noise they heard was his car hitting the house.

"We had a bunch of pictures and mirrors fall off the walls in there. Shook the whole house pretty hard," said Barr.

Soon after jumping from his car, Philpott was captured and taken into custody. Helena Police say he will remain at the Helena City Jail for now and then he will be transported to the Shelby County Jail.

Police say that Philpott is "known" to them. He is reportedly on probation.

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