Authorities say a 30-year-old man remains on the loose after he allegedly escaped police custody on Saturday, kidnapped a woman and took off in a police cruiser when officers in another state attempted to recapture him.
According to ABC News, authorities in Oklahoma caught up with Travis Lee Davis on Wednesday after receiving a tip that he had taken a woman against her will.
Upon arriving at the scene, roughly 350 miles from the Pettis County jail where he initially escaped from guards, local cops placed him in custody, handcuffed him behind his back, and sat him in the rear seat of their car.
Once inside the vehicle, police reports show Davis was able to maneuver into the driver’s seat and drive away as the officers stood outside speaking to the alleged victim.
The suspect reportedly drove the police cruiser a short distance, crashing into a tree about two miles away and running from the scene on foot.
In addition to setting up a search perimeter and scouring an area measuring 10 square miles, officials also contacted a local rail line in case Davis hopped on a train to escape the vicinity, according to a news report from the Heavener Police Department on Wednesday.
“It is possible that Davis escaped the area by trespassing on a freight train, however, people in the area should keep their doors locked and be watchful for strangers,” the agency stated. “Anyone driving in the area should not pick up any hitchhiker and should definitely report them to the Leflore County Sheriff’s Office.”
Davis was originally locked up on charges including kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, domestic assault, and resisting arrest, according to the New York Post.
[Featured image: Travis Lee Davis, Missouri State Highway Patrol]
