ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — A gray Chevrolet Impala was an unlikely lawn decoration in Jean Sanca Calvert’s trim front yard in Robertsdale Tuesday morning. However, as police officers from many different communities circled the vehicle, and a helicopter buzzed overhead, it was clear that the car wasn’t an ordinary visitor to the home.

“Earlier this morning,” said Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Tuesday, “the Fairhope Police Department received a call from OnStar that a vehicle reported stolen in Mobile was located in Fairhope.”

According to Mack, the vehicle was one of three stolen from a used car lot in Mobile the night before. The vehicle bore Alabama handicap tags, and was taken back to Mobile so a forensic team could search for clues.

Mack said that the Fairhope police spotted the Impala and tried to stop it, but the vehicle led officers on a “high speed chase” eastbound on Highway 104.

Other departments came to Fairhope’s aid, and according to Mack, the suspect “Had officers behind him and could see officers coming the other way (on 104.)”

You’d think the suspect was trapped. The driver, who Mobile police have identified as Keith Anthony Kiel, 5 foot, 5 inches tall, 165 pounds, turned off 104, between two large azalea bushes into Calvert’s yard, stopping in front of a tall pine tree. According to Mobile police, Kiel is also known as “Fool,” lives in Mobile and is known to frequent areas in west Mobile,

“The suspect abandoned the car at 17600 (Highway) 104,” said Mack, “and fled on foot.”

K-9 units from Fairhope, Baldwin County and the Alabama Department of Corrections tried and failed to pick up Kiel. According to Mack, eight or nine other agencies assisted in the chase and search for Kiel.

Kiel was possibly armed, police say. The Impala’s passenger side door had a single bullet hole in it. Mobile officers at the scene, who asked not to be identified, said that was an exit hole and speculated that Kiel had the weapon on the seat beside him and that it might have discharged when he went over the ditchin front of Calvert’s home.

As of this writing, Kiel is still at large.

“People should be cautious of strangers at their door,” said Mack.” Neighbors should look out for neighbors. If they see something suspicious, they should call 937-0202.”

None of this excitement fazed Calvert. She’s been living in the home “off and on since 1948.”

“I’m not afraid. There’s so many people out there, I feel very safe,” said Calvert.

Calvert, fortunately, was not home when the Impala and the following police vehicles burst into her front yard.

“I was at an exercise class at the Thames center,” she said.

Calvert said that at first, she could not get to her home because of all the police cars.

“So I went to the (Baldwin County) Senior Center and tried to call my daughter, but she was out looking for me.”

Calvert added that when she returned home around 12:30 p.m., “three police officers” searched the house thoroughly before she went in.

“I think they searched the back shed, too,” Calvert added.

Chris Childress, Calvert’s daughter, was with her during the interview, and was clearly nervous at all the excitement around her mother’s home. Her hands were shaking as she answered a steady stream of calls form concerned friends and family members.

“A friend of mine saw a bunch of police cars around the house,” said Childress, who lives in Silverhill.

“This is more excitement then we have had in five years,” said Childress. “We are going to have family around her the rest of the day. I just wish they’d find him.”

Calvert’s grown grandson, Eric, who declined to be interviewed for this story, lives next door and promised to keep a close eye on his grandmother. He also lent her an “early warning system” of sorts, his eight-week-old Chihuahua puppy, ‘Maximus.”

“He’ll bark if someone is around,” said Calvert.