On January 9, 2026, Opelika Police Officers were involved in a vehicle pursuit stemming from a domestic dispute and welfare check. Around 12:20 p.m. CST, officers responded to a domestic violence call on Andrews Road, where a mother expressed concern for the safety of her child after she was assaulted by the child’s father.
The father, identified as 39-year-old Justin Scott Roberts, had taken the child and fled in his vehicle. Officers located the black Nissan Titan truck in the area and attempted a traffic stop. Roberts refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit through Opelika.
Roberts was wanted for felony assault on a police officer, stemming from a previous incident, and due to the presence of a juvenile in the vehicle and concerns for their immediate safety, officers continued the pursuit onto I-85 North. The pursuit continued across the state line into Georgia, at which time Opelika Police Officers discontinued their pursuit, and Alabama and Georgia law enforcement agencies continued the pursuit along I-85 North.
Just after 1:20 p.m. CST (2:20 p.m. EST), deputies with the Georgia State Troopers successfully executed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. Before law enforcement could approach the driver, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies were able to safely remove the child from the vehicle. The child appears unharmed but is being evaluated as a precaution.
The Opelika Police Department would like to thank the Georgia State Patrol, Troup County Sheriff’s Office, Chambers County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding agencies for their assistance in safely recovering the child.
