A multi-state manhunt for an Arkansas prison escapee has ended near Jay in Santa Rosa County.
Sheriff's officials say Derrick Estell and Tamara Upshaw were captured at a vacant house in the woods near the intersection of Hwy 182 and Chumuckla Hwy. Estell was being held in an Arkansas prison on 26 charges to include burglary, theft, and drug-related crimes. He was said to be armed and extremely dangerous.
Multiple news accounts from Arkansas say Estell escaped on July 28 with help from his mother, Glenda Estell, who has been arrested and charged in the escape. A video from inside the prison shows Derrick Estell on the telephone sitting on the floor, and then suddenly dropping the phone, disappearing out of view and then sliding through an open countertop window and to the floor. He begins running from the prison and an outside video shows a guard chasing him across the parking lot.
Video link of escape: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQpLjNDF9vY&feature=player_embedded
Officials in Arkansas reported to local media there that Estell jumped into a car owned by another inmate, who they say helped with the escape, and driven by Upshaw. The car was found, but Estell and Upshaw were missing.
A manhunt covering multiple states has been ongoing since the escape. It was reported that Estell was likely hiding in the area of Springfield, Missouri.
Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office release:
On 8/22/13 the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office received a tip saying Estell and his girlfriend Tamara Upshaw were possibly in Santa Rosa County.
Deputies quickly reviewed the information that was provided and formulated a strategy to locate the wanted couple. Deputies began to search an area where it was believed they were staying.
Deputies located an abandoned home in a wooded area near the intersection of Hwy 182 and Chumuckla Hwy. It was known to Law Enforcement that Estell was very dangerous and was known to be armed. Members of several units of the Sheriff’s Office surrounded the home and ordered the suspects to come out. Estell and Upshaw came out of the home without incident. Estell is wanted in Arkansas for the following charges:
· Escape
· Fleeing
· Commercial burglary
· Aggravated robbery; possession of a firearm; theft of property $0/$5000; leave the scene of personal injury
· Residential burglary; fleeing; criminal mischief; resisting arrest.
· Escape 2nd Degree
· Aggravated robbery; theft by receiving of a firearm by certain persons (4 cts); fleeing
· Possession of a firearm by certain persons; commercial burglary; theft of property $0/$1000; criminal mischief
· Commercial burglary; criminal mischief
· Commercial burglary; theft of property $0/$1000; criminal mischief
· Commercial burglary (2 cts); criminal mischief; criminal mischief
· Theft by receiving $0/$1000
Estell and Upshaw are being held without bond. Extra precautions are in place at the Santa Rosa County Jail to ensure the security of Estell and Upshaw.
According to information provided by the Garland County Sheriff's Office this morning, the pair were located with the help of "cooperating individuals" who helped officials pinpoint their location near Jay in Northern Santa Rosa County. This information was obtained by Garland County Sheriff's Investigators Russ Severns and Terry Threadgill. Officials in Milton were contacted and along with the U.S. Marshal's Task Force, and the FBI captured Estell and Upshaw without incident.
Two more people were arrested "for their involvement in the escape and are awaiting court" according ot Sheriff Larry Sanders. It is not known if additional arrests will take place.
A manhunt covering multiple states has been ongoing since the escape. It was reported that Estell was likely hiding in the area of Springfield, Missouri.
Sanders says, "The Sheriff’s Department would like to thank Kyle Heidler with the Dallas County Missouri Sheriff’s Department, Missouri Information Analysis Center, Special Agent Scott Falls with the FBI in Little Rock, Special Agent Sgt. Dennis Morris with the Arkansas State Police, US Forest Service, Nebraska State Police, and all other agencies involved for their assistance."
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: UPDATE: Details of escapee's capture released – Prison's escape video link