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| Drake in Custody |
One of Vernon County’s
most wanted was captured early Friday morning when the Vernon County
Special Response Team as well as other members of the Sheriff’s
Office served a search warrant at a residents on south 2270 Road
between Walker and Schell City. According to a press release from the
Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, Gary W Drake Jr. was taken into
custody by the SRT Team in the woods when Drake tried to run on foot
from deputies approaching the residence from the drive way. Vernon
County Sheriff Jason Mosher said his office had been at the address
previously but believes Drake ran on foot into the woods when
deputies attempted to contact him. “We think he ran the first time
we were there so we waited for a while to make him feel safe that we
were not coming back and then applied for a warrant” said Mosher.
The Sheriff said this time when they went back, a tactical team made
their way from a road further north of the property so they would be
waiting in the woods, and that is where they took Drake into custody.
“He practically ran right into us” the Sheriff said. The Sheriff
also said two other people were also taken into custody during the
incident but their names have not yet been released pending the
filing of formal charges.
Mr. Drake was wanted for
charges that included; Involuntary Manslaughter – 1st
degree, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, DWI Intoxication Persistent
Offender, Driving While Revoked/Suspended, Operating a Motor Vehicle
in a Careless and Imprudent Manner, Resisting/Interfering with Arrest,
and Non-Support. The Sheriff’s Office had asked for the public’s
help in locating Drake last month and the Sheriff said that help is
what led to his arrest. “We received approximately 35 tips over the
last month, but started watching this location a couple of weeks ago
after deputies made contact with someone in that area.” Drake is
being held in the Vernon County Jail with bonds totaling $22,500 on
three of the warrants and no-bond on the fourth. The Sheriff said his
office will also be applying for additional charges stemming from
this search warrant.
