Marion Co. jail fugitives arrested in Forrest Co

Published 5:08 pm Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Forrest County deputies have arrested two men who escaped from the Marion County jail over the weekend.

David LaVon “Buddy” Johnson, 22, and Ricky Chadwick Roberts, 17, were captured around 9 p.m. Monday after a chase that ended on a county road. Also arrested was Johnson’s mother, Angela “Cookie” Johnson, said Scott McKinney, a Marion County sheriff’s investigator.

McKinney said all three were returned to Marion County.

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Forrest County deputies spotted the stolen white Ford pickup truck the inmates were driving and gave chase when the inmates fled, McKinney said.

McKinney said Johnson fled on foot but was caught by a Columbia detective.

The men escaped around 2:30 p.m. Saturday from the Marion County jail by climbing through razor wire at the jails, officials said.

David Johnson was being held in Marion County on two counts of burglary, felony fleeing, receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools. He also faces charges in Pike County for kidnapping, robbery and grand larceny.

Roberts was being held in Marion County on two counts of burglary, receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools. Roberts also faces kidnapping, robbery and grand larceny charges in Pike County.

An official with the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office said the inmates and Angela Johnson will face charges in Forrest County as well.

James Sparacello, a Pike County sheriff’s investigator, said local charges against Johnson and Roberts are from a Dec. 21 robbery.

“They tied up an elderly man, gagged him, took some guns from him, other items and money,” Sparacello said. “They also stole his car.”