Man shot by police faces charges in earlier burglary

RUSSELLVILLE - A man who was shot by police after he fired at a Russellville officer has been charged in connection with the burglary of Phil Campbell Pharmacy.

Steve Jeffrey Cain, 49, Franklin 20, Spruce Pine, was charged Wednesday with attempted murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree receiving stolen property, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree theft of property, according to Franklin County court officials.

Cain is accused of breaking into the pharmacy Sept. 11 and shooting several times at a police officer before making off with several bottles of prescription drugs.

"We had several things that indicated he was the person involved," said Phil Campbell Police Chief Merrell Potter.

Potter said agents with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation worked with his department on the case.

The chief said investigators just followed the evidence.

"We had five suspects and (Cain) was one of them," Potter said. "During the course of the investigation, everything just fell into place that pointed to him as the prime suspect."

Cain is in the Franklin County jail on bail of $250,000 from an incident that took place in Russellville on Sept. 30.

Cain was shot once in his right side when police returned fire outside Concord Baptist Church on Gandy Street in Russellville. Cain is accused of shooting at officers who were responding to a suspicious person call at Hometown Pharmacy, which is a few yards from the church.

He is charged with attempted murder of a police officer, second-degree attempted burglary and a felon in possession of a weapon in that case.

Potter said Cain is accused of shooting at officer Ewell Turner, who was responding to an alarm at the Phil Campbell Pharmacy. When Turner went to inspect the building, he didn't see anyone but noticed someone had tampered with the door.

Potter said Turner pushed the door open with this foot and the suspect came up from behind the counter and fired at Turner nine times with a .45-caliber pistol.

The chief said Turner called for assistance, and after other officers arrived, he ordered the suspect to come out of the building.

"Instead, he burst through the back door of the building and ran into a wooded area," Potter said.

On his way out, Potter said the suspect dropped a bottle of prescription drugs along with a tool authorities believe was used to pry open the door to the pharmacy.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.