City officials, the Scottsboro Police Department, and residents of Jackson County remain shaken following a 21-hour manhunt that unfolded over the final weekend of July. What began as a domestic violence call quickly escalated into a high-speed police chase, a shooting that injured a law enforcement officer, and the eventual capture of the suspect after an extensive search.
According to authorities, the incident began early Saturday morning when Scottsboro police responded to a domestic violence call. The suspect, identified as Daniel McCarn, fled the scene in a vehicle, prompting a pursuit. Around 12:49 a.m., McCarn crashed at the intersection of U.S. Highway 72 and County Park Road.
During the crash, McCarn allegedly opened fire on law enforcement, striking Lieutenant Derek Porch in the left hand. Lt. Porch, a 29-year veteran of the department, was transported to Huntsville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Scottsboro Mayor Jim McCamy reflected on the rarity and severity of the incident in an interview with WHNT.
“We’ve had incidents with officers before, but not like this,” McCamy said. “I think we’ve actually lost one officer in the line of duty, but that was 60-something years ago, 70 years ago. But nothing in recent memory, anything like this. He’s one of our guys. It’s been a tough weekend.”
Police Chief Greg Godfrey also expressed the emotional toll the shooting had on the department.
“I’ve never been in a department that an officer has been shot,” Godfrey told the station. “And when you get a phone call as the chief of police at 1:00 in the morning, that one of your officers has been shot, I mean, it kind of puts you in a little bit of a shock.”
Lt. Porch has reportedly undergone two surgeries and is expected to recover, though doctors have warned he may experience limited mobility as a result of the injury. Chief Godfrey, who visited him at the hospital, said the officer remained upbeat.
“I went down, popped into the emergency room the night of. He was still full of life. Good spirit. He was hurting, but you couldn’t really tell it,” he said. “He’s an incredible officer. One of the top-notch officers in the city, as most of them are. But he’s a good leader, and he’s highly regarded here.”
Mayor McCamy urged the community to continue rallying behind Lt. Porch.
“We love you. We’re thinking about you and will do whatever we can to help you,” he said.
McCarn was apprehended around 10 p.m. that evening and charged with attempted murder. He is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail on a $10 million bond.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
