A Tallassee man is in police custody after a deadly shooting at an industrial plant in south Tallassee Friday.
Tallassee police chief Todd Buce said dispatchers received the call at 9:20 a.m. and responded to the scene on Highway 229. When law enforcement arrived the shooter had left.
Cliff Williams / The Tribune The Tallassee Police Department was aided by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department following a shooting that left one person dead on Highway 229 South.
“We developed a suspect, Clifton Potts, date of birth Feb. 13, 1978,” Buce said.
Three hours later Potts was taken into custody in Phenix City. Buce said investigators would bring Potts back to Elmore County to be booked into the Elmore County Jail.
“There was a relationship,” Buce said, describing Potts and the victim. “Mr. Potts just got released from prison [Thursday]. I think this incident might be related.”
Potts left the scene in a 2021 Dodge Challenger. A ‘BOLO’ was issued for the vehicle and Potts not long after the shooting.
According to court records, Potts pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and second-degree possession of marijuana in June 2021 and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
In 2011, Potts was sentenced to 56 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of a controlled substance.
In 2010, Potts was sentenced to 56 months in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree possession of marijuana.
In 2001, Potts was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to intimidating a witness.
As of 1 p.m. Friday there is no bond set for Potts.