Alabama police respond after Tuberville rival suggests office burglary politically motivated

Bessemer police confirmed on Friday that the recent break-in at a local insurance office—owned by a gubernatorial hopeful—appears to be part of a broader string of commercial crimes rather than a targeted political attack.

A Pattern of Burglaries

Ken McFeeters, owner of PAC Insurance Agency on 19th Street North in Bessemer, reported his office was ransacked during the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 3. Despite the intrusion, where the perpetrator smashed through a wall and severed phone lines, McFeeters noted that nothing appeared to be stolen. While he previously stated, "It was not just a random break-in," and refused to rule out political motivations, law enforcement officials have pushed back on that theory.

Bessemer police Sgt. Chris Selman linked the incident to a string of similar burglaries throughout Jefferson County. Evidence suggests the motive in these cases is the theft of cash, with investigators noting that a nearly identical commercial burglary occurred in Fairfield during the same timeframe. "There is no indication that this burglary was politically motivated," Selman stated. "This incident appears to be connected to a broader pattern of recent commercial burglaries."

The Investigation Continues

McFeeters is currently involved in a high-profile challenge against U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s candidacy for governor, alleging that the Senator maintains residency in Florida. Despite the political backdrop, investigators remain focused on the criminal evidence.

Crime Stoppers had previously alerted the public to a serial suspect targeting the Bessemer Cutoff area. Since late April 2026, multiple businesses along Birmingport Road, Eastern Valley Road, and Warrior River Road have been hit by an individual using a sledgehammer to breach walls or doors. While the FBI was made aware of the PAC Insurance break-in, the investigation remains under the jurisdiction of the Bessemer Police Department.

A Warning on AI-Enhanced Evidence

Detectives have officially identified a suspect in the PAC Insurance case but are withholding a name due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. Sgt. Selman also issued a warning regarding images circulating on social media.

"We are also aware of an image of the suspect that has circulated online and on social media," Selman said. "That image was not released by the Bessemer Police Department and appears to have been digitally altered or enhanced by a third party using artificial intelligence tools." He cautioned that such images are not reliable for identification, as the original surveillance footage lacks sufficient quality to definitively confirm facial features.