Among the lesser-known UFO incidents reported in the United States, one of the most unusual occurred in the small town of Falkville, in northern Alabama.
The event became unusual not because of multiple witnesses, but because the sighting was reported by a police officer on duty, who later claimed he briefly encountered a strange humanoid figure near the roadside.
The report, made in 1973, remains one of the strangest UFO-related encounters recorded in the state.
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The Officer’s Report
The incident took place on October 17, 1973.
A police officer named Jeff Greenhaw received a call about a strange object seen near the outskirts of town.
Greenhaw drove toward the reported location along a quiet road outside Falkville.
As he approached the area, he noticed something unusual standing near the roadside.
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The Mysterious Figure
According to the officer’s report, the figure appeared to be humanoid but strangely reflective, as if covered in metallic or aluminum-like material.
Greenhaw described the figure as: • Roughly six feet tall • Covered in a tight, shiny suit • Moving in an unusual, stiff manner
When the officer stopped his patrol car and approached, the figure reportedly turned toward him briefly before running away at high speed.
Greenhaw attempted to follow it in his vehicle, but the figure disappeared into the darkness.
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The Photographs
Before the figure fled completely, Greenhaw managed to take several Polaroid photographs of the object.
The images later circulated among UFO researchers, though they were blurry and difficult to interpret.
Some observers believed the photographs showed a reflective humanoid form, while others argued the images were too unclear to confirm what was seen.
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Aftermath
The incident quickly attracted attention in the small town.
Although the officer maintained his account of the event, the experience reportedly brought him unwanted publicity.
In later interviews, Greenhaw said the encounter affected his career and reputation, and he eventually left the police force.
Despite investigation and speculation, no confirmed explanation for the figure was ever established.
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Why the Case Is Still Discussed
The Falkville incident remains unusual because the witness was a trained police officer responding to a call while on duty.
Unlike many UFO reports that occur at great distances in the sky, this encounter involved a close-range sighting of a humanoid figure on the ground.
While skeptics suggest the event could have been a prank or a misidentification, others consider it one of the more curious UFO-related reports in Alabama history.
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Discussion
What do you think the officer may have encountered that night near Falkville?
Could the figure have been a person wearing reflective clothing, an unusual prank, or something that simply defied easy explanation? 👀