Man sought after stealing bounty hunter's vehicle, evading arrest in Washington Parish
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Updated: 4:35 PM CDT Apr 30, 2021
WDSU Digital Team
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Updated: 4:35 PM CDT Apr 30, 2021
WDSU Digital Team
The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for a woman they say escaped custody of bail bond agents Thursday. The sheriff said Rodney Wayne Smith, 45, was in handcuffs and taken into custody on Highway 436 when he managed to get into the front seat of a bounty hunter's vehicle and speed away. Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives responded and pursued the fleeing vehicle which turned north on Highway 62 and north again on Highway 424 when officers lost sight of the vehicle near Hubert Grantham Road, according to the sheriff. The vehicle was later found abandoned down an embankment about thirty yards from the roadway off Highway 424. Smith was not on scene, but did steal an Anderson Arms AR15 from the vehicle when he fled on foot, according to the sheriff's office.Sheriff Randy Seal said Drug Task Force detectives were called to the scene along with a canine team from Rayburn Correctional Center. Officers were unable to locate Smith, but were able to determine he fled in the woods west of Highway 424 and somehow was able to shed his handcuffs and shackles, according to Seal. The sheriff's office said a warrant has been obtained for Smith for vehicle theft, aggravated flight from an officer, theft of a firearm and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.Seal said Smith’s accomplice was arrested at the residence on Highway 436. Heather Jones, 36, a resident of Avenue D in Bogalusa, was booked into the Washington Parish Jail based on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court, according to Seal. Seal said Jones has a previous arrest in September 2020 for possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs.“If you know where Rodney Wayne Smith is located, please call and let us know,” Seal said. “He is armed, so do not try to apprehend him yourself.Call us at 985-839-3434 and give us whatever information you have. We will take it from there. Callers may remain anonymous. We need to take Smith into custody before anyone gets hurt.”