SEARCH AND RESCUE TURNS INTO RECOVERY MISSION AFTER PIKE COUNTY MAN FLEEING FROM POLICE IN MARTIN COUNTY DRIVES TO MINGO COUNTY AND THEN JUMPS INTO TUG FORK RIVER
MARTIN COUNTY NATIVE FLED VEHICLE WITH FIREARM, DISCARDING IT JUST BEFORE FATEFUL PLUNGE INTO COLD FAST FLOWING
APRIL 20, 2020 – written by WADE QUEEN
MISSING AND PRESUMED DECEASED: KERMIT FIRE DEPARTMENT’S SEARCH AND RESCUE SEARCHES THE TUG FORK RIVER FOR ARNOLD B. “BIRDIE” MILLS AFTER HE FLED A POLICE PURSUIT THAT STARTED IN MARTIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY AND ENDING IN MINGO COUNTY.
A police vehicle pursuit that started in Martin County, Kentucky Saturday night ended as a recovery effort in the Tug Fork River in Mingo County, West Virginia on Sunday.
Emergency and rescue crews Kermit, Warfield, and Martin County were back on scene along the Tug River in Mingo County searching for a man law enforcement officials say jumped into the water during a police pursuit Saturday night.
The Kermit Fire Department said search crews were out until 2 A.M. Sunday morning looking for Arnold B. “Birdie” Mills, 28, of Turkey Creek, Kentucky , and that they resumed their search around 9 A.M.
Police said that Arnold Mills was involved in a police vehicle pursuit after refusing to pull over for a traffic stop in Martin County, Kentucky before crossing into Mingo County, West Virginia at around 10:30 P.M., whereupon Mills left his car carrying a gun on the Kermit Bridge and continued running down below to underneath the bridge, dropping the gun while being chased by officers on foot, before jumping into the river.
Three other men in Mills’ vehicle continued to drive into Mingo County but they were eventually pulled over by law enforcement.
Officers stated that Mills floated northward for 100 yards down the Tug Fork River, when Mills began yelling for help, before going under the water.
Officials at the scene reported they are considering the search for Arnold Mills a recovery mission at this point, as they now believe he is unlikely to have survived.
If anyone believes they may have seen Arnold Mills, they are encouraged to contact Mingo County and Martin County authorities. Individuals can contact the Mingo County non-emergency line at 304-235-8551 and the Martin County non-emergency line at 606-298-2082.
Any updates?