Shortly after 10:30 pm a routine traffic stop quickly turned bad for one suspect. As officers ran an inquiry on a suspect in a traffic stop, the man suddenly ran from officers on West Poplar Street in Walnut Ridge, officers quickly found out why. Information on the suspect came back that Donald Hancock of Walnut Ridge was wanted out of another county for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and wanted in Lawrence County on a rape warrant.
Officers from Walnut Ridge, quickly assisted by other officers from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Hoxie Police and Arkansas State Police blocked off a square surrounding the suspect. A K-9 Team from the Calico Rock area was already in Lawrence County assisting with an unrelated matter were dispatched to the area in Walnut Ridge where the suspect was hiding.
Within minutes, Walnut Ridge Officers relayed to the Lawrence County Dispatch that they had the suspect in custody. Donald Hancock’s night got even worse when he allegedly assaulted a jailer at the Lawrence County Jail while being processed.
Hancock faces his two outstanding warrants along with new charges of Unauthorized Use Of A Vehicle, Fleeing On Foot, Public Intoxication and Assault On A Correction Officer. Hancock is currently awaiting a bond hearing and court date in the Lawrence County Jail.
For more information on the Walnut Ridge Police Department visit www.cityofwalnutridge.com .
For more information on the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office visit www.lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com .