Thursday, August 29, 2013
Driver Charged With Assault Of Six Deputies While Evading Arrest
Numerous charges were issued against a Loretto man and his companions Wednesday night after he fled from deputies, narrowly avoiding collisions with two patrol cars and crashing into a third.
Reports filed through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department show that deputies were summoned to a property on Rascal Town Road around 9:00 p.m. regarding suspicious vehicles behind one residence.
Complainants reported that vehicles had been driving onto and off of the property and that there were several subjects camping near the creek without permission.
While speaking with a complainant, deputies report that a vehicle began to exit the property. The driver said that he had only been on the property to drop off an individual who had asked for a ride.
While a deputy was speaking with him, Lawrence Central Dispatch reported receiving a complaint of a driver pulling a vehicle into a nearby driveway and turning off the lights.
Deputies went to check the suspicious vehicle and quickly reported that the driver, later identified as John C. Staggs, 27, of Old Jackson Highway, Loretto, “Was running and failing to stop for emergency equipment.”
Deputies began to move in on the area and report that Staggs veered into the path of one patrol car, then swerved just before colliding with it head-on. They said that Staggs then veered back into the wrong lane and narrowly avoided colliding with a second patrol car.
Reports show that when Staggs approached the location of the initial call he swerved into the driveway and jumped a ditch, then proceeded up a hill and behind a cabin. He reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Staggs left the vehicle in drive, allowing it to roll down the hill and crash into a third patrol car.
While some of the deputies pursued Staggs, others converged upon his vehicle. They report that passenger Kimberly Nicole Keeton, age 24, of Busby Road, Loretto, refused to exit the vehicle when ordered to do so. They report they had to physically remove her, then handcuff her when she made attempts to use her cell phone.
Deputies discovered a loaded .22 rifle inside Staggs’ vehicle and notified the others that he could possibly be armed. They report that the interior of the Isuzu Trooper had a very strong odor of burned marijuana and that they located a small amount, along with marijuana seeds, inside.
Deputies found components used to make methamphetamine concealed inside a cooler in the back seat. Additional components were seized from a blue backpack they found at the rear of the car.
Deputies report they found Kenneth Brannon Olive, 34, of 11 Barnett Drive, Loretto at the creek. He was subsequently charged with trespassing.
They requested that members of the Loretto Fire Department respond to the scene with a thermal imaging camera as they continued to search for Staggs.
Keeton was transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center where she was booked under charges of promotion of the manufacture of meth, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault on a police officer. She was incarcerated under a bond of $73,500.
Warrants were obtained, charging Staggs with six counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, promotion of the manufacture of meth, unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon, fleeing to avoid arrest, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, vandalism of a government vehicle, and reckless driving.
