By JAN GRIFFEY/Editor

COLUMBIANA — Thanks to the quick action of a concerned citizen, a Columbiana man is in jail, facing $1 million bond and an attempted first-degree rape charge.

Daryl Dewayne Pickett, 36, of the 1700 block of Egg and Butter Road, Columbiana, was arrested on Feb. 25, following an investigation by the Columbiana Police Department.

Chief Lamar Vick of the Columbiana Police Department said a woman was jogging in Columbiana on the sidewalk area near Bolton Funeral Home on Shelby County 47 at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24.

Vick said the woman was allegedly approached by a black male, who grabbed her and dragged her down on the ground.

“A passerby saw something going on, turned around and witnessed the black male struggling with the woman, then get up and run away, leaving the scene in a white vehicle,” Vick said.

Police were able to get enough information from the passerby and the victim, which allowed them to track down the vehicle. That vehicle led them to Pickett, who was arrested on Tuesday.

“Due to his prior arrest history, we asked for the maximum bond,” Vick said.

He said the concern of the citizen in turning around to find out more about what was going on when he saw the struggle occurring, led to the arrest in the incident.

“Luckily, we had some information to go on to make an arrest in this case. Except for this citizen, we would have had nothing,” Vick said.