A host of local law enforcement captured a man who was wanted for the theft of a Mississippi Highway Patrol vehicle and escaping police custody was caught in Northwest Decatur as many worshipers were attending church nearby on Sunday morning.
Officers from the Decatur Police Department, Newton County Sheriff’s Office and East Central Police Department arrested Sean Patrick Sharp about 11 a.m. Sunday, ending a two-day search for the suspect who was hiding in a wooded area near Eighth Avenue NW and Decatur Carthage Road in Decatur.
Decatur Police Chief Joedy Pennington said a Newton County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed on Friday afternoon that a vehicle traveling on Decatur Little Rock Road was acting unusual and eventually ran two stop signs. Officers then tried to initiate a traffic stop on Broad Street before the vehicle took off down Eighth Avenue, which becomes Decatur Carthage Road.
The suspect ditched the car on Decatur Carthage Road. A female suspect was arrested where the car was left, but Patrick then went into hiding in the woods.
After setting up a perimeter and search for hours on Friday night, Pennington said the officers suspended the search. Then on Saturday morning, Rep. Randy Rushing, who lives near the search area, reported that he saw the suspect and then was able to detain the suspect after he knocked on Rushing’s door.
However, Sharp escaped once again, and another search began on Saturday in the same area. After they couldn’t find him, Pennington said they extended the search area northward, but once again came up empty.
“We even used thermal image cameras, but we couldn’t find him,” Pennington said. “What he later told us that he was hiding under leaves in woods and didn’t move for as long as eight hours.”
On Sunday morning, officers were alerted that he was seen once again seen moving in the Eighth Avenue area of Decatur. They were finally able to take him into custody, and no one was injured in the incident.
“We finally laid eyes on him and was able to take him into custody,” Pennington said. “We appreciate everyone’s help getting this guy into custody safely. It was a team effort from all the law enforcement agencies involved, Rep. Randy Rushing and the residents of Eighth Avenue.”
Pennington said the agencies involved in the search included the Decatur Police Department, Newton County Sheriff’s Department, East Central Police Department, MDOT Law Enforcement and Mississippi Game and Fish.
On Nov. 21, Sharp was arrested by the Mississippi Highway Patrol after troopers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 49 near Mendenhall. Sharp, who was facing vehicle theft charges in Warren County, escaped from handcuffs and stole the MHP cruiser he was being held in. Sharp led MHP troopers on a chase.
Sharp abandoned the MHP cruiser and stole a Jeep and fled to his brother’s residence on Hwy. 13. Sharp later stole a black Honda Accord from his brother’s shop on Highway 49 before fleeing east on Highway 540.
All of charges Sharp is facing were not immediately available as of Tuesday morning.
