Assault charges to be upgraded

Two felony assault charges against an Atmore man who crashed into a vehicle occupied by a Flomaton couple will be upgraded after one of the victims died seven days following the collision at the intersection of Main and Church streets in downtown Atmore.

Joseph Allen Weese, 33, 67 Alpine Ave., was originally charged with two counts of assault after the Dec. 23 collision with a vehicle occupied by Donna and Andy Moye. Weese was given a $500,000 bond on the assault charges, but Andy Moye, 62, of Community Church Road in Flomaton, died Thursday, Dec. 30, due to the injuries he received during the crash. His wife Donna Moye was seriously injured in the crash. An update on her condition was not available as of press time Wednesday.

Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steve Billy said he expects the charges against Weese to be upgraded, noting the case will be presented to a grand jury later this month.

According to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks, Weese was accused of shoplifting at the Atmore Walmart store on Dec. 22. By time officers arrived, Weese had left the area. Brooks said employees called the police department on Dec. 23 to report Weese had returned to the store.

When Atmore police arrived they identified Weese's Chevrolet Avalanche and attempted to make a traffic stop as Weese left the store's parking lot heading south on Highway 21.

Brooks said officers activated their emergency lights and sirens but Weese failed to stop. He said when Weese reached speeds of more than 80 mph and began getting into traffic around Harold Street, the officers terminated the chase.

Reports state Weese ran through the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 31 heading into downtown Atmore on Main Street. Reports state he ran the red light at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street, where he collided with the Ford Ranger driven by Andy Moye.

Chief Brooks said the collision occurred about a quarter mile to half mile after police ended the pursuit.

In addition to his Atmore address, Weese had an address listed at 502 East 9th St., in Frostproof, Fla.

Billy also said Weese had outstanding warrants for his arrest in Florida for burglary.

Andy Moye was a native and lifelong resident of Flomaton and was employed in the lawn maintenance and landscaping business. He also served as volunteer for the Century Fire Department.

Moye's funeral was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. For complete obituary, see Page 8A.