up in Pike County Jail

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

March 6, 2000 11 PM

The man who fled from law enforcement almost three weeks ago has been caught.

Pike County deputies were able to apprehend Jeffrey Wayne Parker, 26, after a brief foot chase near the Pike-Dale County line Monday afternoon.

Parker, who has been living in Florida, was arrested on a felony warrant out of Bay County, Fla. for a violation of probation/parole on aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery charges.

Officers have been on the lookout for the man, who gave a Spring Hill address when he was arrested in April 1999, after he fled from an Alabama State Trooper who tried to take him into custody on Feb. 15.

At that time, the Trooper attempted to stop Parker during a routine traffic stop and wound up chasing ­ but not catching ­ the suspect. The Trooper called Pike County to assist at the scene of Alabama 87 and Pike County Road 41, where Parker had left a 4-year-old and 13-year-old behind in the vehicle.

A deputy recognized Parker, who has a criminal history, at County Road 41 and County Road 6. The area was closed off and the Troy Police Department’s K-9 unit was called in to assist. However, officers were still unable to catch their man until Monday.

But, the search ended Monday when Pike County Deputies Kevin Childs and Henry Wentland gave chase and apprehended Parker on U.S. 231 South near the Dale County line.

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said Florida authorities will be notified and Parker will likely be extradited to Florida.