Shortly before 11 am on Saturday, Lawrence County Inmate Randall Morris escaped from jailers while he was being moved from cell for visitation, Morris ran out a back door at the jail and eluded jailers.
Morris then stole a truck from the neighborhood behind the jail and fled, Walnut Ridge Police Officer Shaun Allen was in the parking lot of the courthouse when he overheard the radio traffic, spotted the vehicle leaving the area and began pursuit.
According to Allen, speeds in the chase reached 127 mph as the pursuit went Hwy 412 to Portia, Black Rock then through Imboden. The Arkansas State Police and Lawrence County Officers joined the pursuit, several vehicles were forced off the road by the suspect but no injuries were reported. Arkansas State Police attempted to use “spike strips†just north of Imboden but the suspect drove around the first attempt. Ravenden Police Chief Tim McComas was notified as the pursuit got closer to Ravenden, Chief McComas had “spike strips†ready to deploy.
Just north of Imboden, the suspect lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway and struck a tree, ending the pursuit. Officers took the suspect into custody at the scene, no injuries were reported.
The suspect is in jail on bank robbery charges stemming from the July bank robbery in Imboden. Randall Morris is from Ravenden.
Several agencies were involved in the pursuit, Sheriff Dotson stated in a phone interview that he would like to “thank each one†for their assistance. Those on scene were the Walnut Ridge Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Arkansas State Police, Hoxie Police Department, Ravenden Police Department, and AET Ambulance. Dail’s Wrecker was called to remove the vehicle from the scene.
For more information on the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, visit www.lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com .
