Trenchport PD Under Siege in Violent Molotov Attack

By Clarence Boone

Crime & Public Safety Correspondent

Trenchport, AL — A chilling and coordinated act of violence rocked the Trenchport Police Department in the early hours of Thursday morning, when three unidentified female suspects launched a firebombing assault on the department headquarters, leaving Chief Marcus Dawson injured and sparking a full-scale manhunt.

The attack, described by authorities as “deliberate and theatrical,” unfolded just after midnight starting with a partially staged corpse, now labeled "Jane Doe", was transferred from a styrofoam crate into the trunk of a vintage black-and-white Crown Victoria on public view.

According to internal TPD documents reviewed by the Trenchport Tribune, the same suspects used a leather pouch of lock-picking tools to access a decommissioned cruiser, deployed synthetic blood to fabricate signs of a homicide, and left behind zip-ties and staged debris to further the illusion.

But the grim theater didn’t stop there.

At approximately 1:34 a.m., while Chief Dawson was exiting the department gate and speaking on his handheld with the mayor, chaos erupted. Moments earlier, Dawson had spoken with a civilian, about department recruitment and directed her inside for safety. The Chief’s body-worn camera was active and captured the entire violent exchange.

Suddenly, the suspects accelerated the stolen cruiser toward the station lot and hurled multiple Molotov cocktails, one of which struck the station's north wall, the other landing near a building corner. The explosions shattered glass and lit up the concrete in searing flame.

The suspects shouted “F*** ya pigs!” as the inferno surged.

Chief Dawson was caught in the blast radius and set ablaze. “F***, I’m on fire!” he screamed on tape while backing away from the flames, trying to pat out the spreading blaze on his pant legs.

Sergeant Gregory Harris, stationed inside the lobby, reacted immediately. He grabbed a fire extinguisher, ran toward the flames, and ordered Dawson to “Stop, drop, and roll!” before dousing the Chief’s lower half. Dawson collapsed, suffering a combination of first- and second-degree burns and injuries from the emergency maneuver.

“Chief Dawson was injured protecting the very institution under attack,” said Harris in a brief statement after securing the perimeter. “He stayed sharp, made the radio call, and never once hesitated.”

Dawson was transported by EMS shortly after 1:40 a.m., following field triage by Harris and Trenchport Fire personnel. “It could’ve been worse. We were seconds from losing him,” one EMT told the Tribune.

Crime scene investigators recovered Molotov fragments, accelerant residue, and a bloodied windshield marked with synthetic prints. The suspect vehicle, a distinct late 1960s to 1970s model sedan without a plate and decommssioned police markings was last seen fleeing southbound at high speed. Witnesses described three women inside, including one with partially hidden green hair, another with purple hair, and a heavy set woman with blonde hair and a pink blowtorch.

In a statement from the Mayor’s Office, spokeswoman Miranda Cole called the assault “a direct act of terrorism against our public institutions,” adding, “The city will spare no expense in bringing these individuals to justice. This was a planned, dangerous, and symbolic attack on the law itself.”

A Pattern of Escalation

The firebombing marks the latest escalation in a disturbing trend of violence targeting city institutions. Earlier this week, the police launched a citywide investigation into a new street drug known as “Candy,” linked to gang-affiliated distributors and a rash of unpredictable, hypersexual behavior during Founders Day. The connection between the attack and that investigation is currently unconfirmed, but sources indicate a shared profile of female suspects involved in both.

Detective Seth Noire has been tapped to lead the follow-up on the “Jane Doe” body, believed to be a staged corpse planted to mislead or intimidate law enforcement. The body has been referred to the Homicide Division for full autopsy and identification.

“The implications are huge,” Noire said outside TPD HQ. “This wasn’t just an act of violence—it was a provocation. A message. We intend to respond in kind—with justice.”

Surveillance and Evidence Requests

Investigators are seeking any footage from nearby businesses as well as eyewitness accounts. Surveillance and forensic analysis' are underway, and police believe the suspects may have ties to known anarchist or gang elements in the city.

The TPD encourages anyone with information regarding the suspects, the vintage Crown Victoria, or the staged corpse to come forward immediately. Tips can be submitted anonymously via the Trenchport Crimestoppers line at 800-251-CASH. A reward may be announced in coming days as the department ramps up efforts to track down the suspects.

Chief Dawson remains in stable condition and is expected to recover.

“We don’t fold under fire,” he said in a brief audio dispatch from his hospital bed. “We double down.”