updated ……..The fleeing suspect Lawrence County Deputies were tracking last night is now in custody in Sharp County.
He was tracked via cell phone pings into Sharp County. Sharp County deputies assisted in picking up the suspect in Highland.
Sheriff Dotson is on his way to Sharp County to pick up the suspect ,Clifton Tillman and will be transporting him to the Lawrence County Jail.
Just before 5 pm on Wednesday, a Lawrence County Deputy on routine patrol in the area of Hwy 115 and Rowsey Road made contact with a Red Pontiac traveling at a high rate of speed, as the officer attempted to stop the vehicle the speeds increased to over 85 mph. The vehicle the turned off in an attempt to elude the officer. Several officers from the Sheriff’s Office converged on the area.
A Smithville Firefighter in the area overheard the radio traffic and spotted a vehicle matching the description on Lawrence 154. The vehicle was out of Missouri and apparently had damage and was disabled, the driver was nowhere around the vehicle.
After contacting authorities in Missouri, the owner/driver of the vehicle was identified as Clifton Tillman of Alton Missouri, DOB 11/13/1966. He is described as 5’8†150 lbs, Brown Hair and Blue Eyes. Scar on chin, tattoo on upper left arm, lower left arm, upper right arm and lower right arm.
He has charges of Assault, Burglary and Control Substance, he is considered dangerous and believed to be on foot in the Smithville area.
Contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office is you have any information, officers are still in the area searching at this time. According to Sheriff Dotson, the suspect is currently on Federal Probation.
Update: Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted by Black Rock Police, Arkansas Game and Fish Officers and Arkansas State Police. The suspect was tracked by cell phone until shortly before 9 pm, the last cell phone ping was in the area of Lawrence 305. Sheriff Dotson had the area of last contact searched by ground using night vision and thermo-imaging camera. Extra patrols are being conducted in both the last area of contact and the Smithville area as well. Request were made for helicopter support during the search but were denied. Residents in the area were notified. The Sheriff’s Office also made contact with the suspects family in an effort to make contact.
We will update this as details become available.
