They both must be pretty dumb.
February 9, 2012
Escapee caught in county
By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer
The Picayune Item Picayune Item Thu Feb 09, 2012, 10:34 AM CST
PICAYUNE — Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies have captured the inmate who escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday after attending his father’s wake in Picayune. Sheriff’s department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said the department received a call Wednesday afternoon that 30-year-old Johnny Hall, Jr., was in the Walkaih area near the Pearl River. The department had reason to believe that Hall was headed north on Mississippi Highway 43 North and saturated the area with deputies. Saucier said Capt. Kelvin Stanford spotted Hall spotted going north on the highway, driving the vehicle used in his initial escape. His accomplice, Mary Virginia “Jenna” Rhea, was in the passenger seat, the chief investigator said. Hall fled as Stanford attempted to stop the vehicle, at times reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, Saucier said. Hall then turned onto Mississippi Highway 26 heading towards Bogalusa, La. Law enforcement departments in Washington Parish were notified of Hall’s direction of travel and they set up road blocks, Saucier said. As Hall crossed the state line heading to Bogalusa, he could see the road block set up by the Bogalusa Police Department and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Department and drove the car into a ditch before fleeing on foot into nearby woods. Saucier said Pearl River County deputy Devin Williams chased Hall into the woods and was able to take him into custody. Officers found a .22-caliber handgun during a search of Hall, Saucier said. Rhea attempted to get into the driver’s seat to drive away after Hall left the car, but was apprehended by Bogalusa Police officers, Saucier said. Saucier said Hall was wanted not only for his escape, but also for his suspected involvement with armed robberies in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texarkana, Ark. “He was a very dangerous guy and very desperate individual,” Saucier said. “We’re very pleased with the outcome and with the jobs of our investigators and deputies.” Saucier said he would like to thank the Bogalusa Police Department, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics for their assistance in Hall’s capture. Hall may face charges for the armed robberies that are still under investigation and could face additional charges including, but not limited to, felony fleeing in Pearl River County, Saucier said. Hall is believed to have family members in the Walkaih area, Saucier said.
