CAPTURED AT LAST
AFTER ALMOST A MONTH ON THE RUN, ESCAPED INMATE FROM MAGOFFIN CO. RECAPTURED AFTER TWO COUNTY CHASE ENDS IN VIOLENT CRASH IN JOHNSON COUNTY
JULY 27, 2017 – written by WADE QUEEN
A Magoffin County inmate who escaped from the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville nearly a month ago is finally back behind bars, albeit in a worse shape after being injured after wrecking at the end of a police car chase through two counties.
According to the Kentucky State Police, on Tuesday evening, troopers arrested Thomas Wade Price, 30 of Paintsville. Price had been on the run for nearly a month after escaping from custody during a court visit.
Reports indicate that police in Magoffin Co. began chasing Price around 9 P.M. Tuesday evening. Kentucky State Police said Price crossed into Johnson County and they (KSP) met him on Mill Creek Road. KSP spokesman Steven Mounts, said,
“Price did a u-turn and came back at the trooper and to avoid collision swerved and hit the hillside crashing his vehicle.” Trooper Mounts said Price was not wearing a seat belt and hit his head on the windshield. Kentucky State Police arrested Price and he was taken back to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Price escaped from Magoffin County Jailer Bryan Montgomery upon returning from court on June 26th at approximately 1:20 P.M. He reportedly escaped shortly after exiting the transport van upon his return from Magoffin District court.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said for weeks they received tips that Thomas Wade Price was seen in Johnson County, but deputies say every time they would go to a location where Price had been spotted, he would always be gone when they arrived.
Thomas Wade Price was originally arrested on June 14 at the Louisa Walmart, on two Magoffin County warrants. Besides the original charges Price is facing, he has now been charged additionally with over a dozen new criminal offenses from his escape and the police pursuit that led to Thomas Price’s recapture. Those 13 new charges are:
• FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 1ST DEGREE (MOTOR VEHICLE), • WANTON ENDANGERMENT-1ST DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER, • NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT, • NO REGISTRATION PLATES, • FAILURE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS, • FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD, • FAILURE OF OWNER TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE/SECURITY, 2ND OFFENSE, • NO OPERATORS-MOPED LICENSE, • RESISTING ARREST, • ESCAPE 2ND DEGREE-(IDENTIFY FACILITY), • FAILURE TO APPEAR, • CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF FORGED INSTRUMENT 2ND DEGREE(IDENTIFY, • PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER II.
