By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
An Atmore man led law enforcement on a spirited foot chase Friday afternoon. The chase lasted about 15 minutes before the suspect was captured in the backyard of a School Street residence.
LaPatrick Devon Smith, 21, was wanted on 10 outstanding misdemeanor warrants. A possession of marijuana charge was added to that list when he was captured Friday afternoon.
Investigator John Brantley headed up the pursuit which started at Winn Dixie.
"We received an anonymous call from someone who spotted Smith and knew we had warrants on him," Brantley said. "Officer Frank Bryars spotted his car in the Winn Dixie shopping center parking lot. Officer Bryars, State Trooper Jimmy Dean and Officer Carney Fillmore set up surveillance waiting for Smith to return to his vehicle."
When Smith came out of the store, he saw officers approaching and he fled on foot in the direction of the Atmore Public Library. Officers quickly set up a perimeter from the library to School Street.
Brantley was in foot pursuit for about a mile as Smith jumped fences and weaved in and out of residential areas.
Poarch Police Officer Jeffrey Weaver joined in setting up the perimeter.
Officers cornered Smith in a backyard on School Street as residents were coming out of their homes to see what was happening.
"Smith was wanted on 10 outstanding misdemeanor warrants," Brantley said. "Most are traffic violations. There is one for resisting arrest, one for assault third degree and one for theft of property third degree.
"After patting the subject down prior to transport to the police department, he was found to be in possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor."
Smith's warrants date back to December 2000.