Drug suspicion leads to manhunt
Published 5:19 pm Wednesday, March 4, 2009
By By Adam Prestridge
Officers with the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office are still searching for a man wanted in questioning in regards to suspected drug activity in Canoe.
According to Sheriff Grover Smith, agents with the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force visited a residence near South Canoe Road around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday acting on tips.
While at the residence, two white males ran out the back door on foot and a DTF agent pursued them. Smith said the agent was able to catch them, but there was a scuffle and one of the men, later identified as Buddy Lee Roberson, 40, was able to escape.
Additional officers with the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, the Atmore Police Department, Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office and the Flomaton Police Department were dispatched to the scene of the incident to create a perimeter spanning from the Florida Highway, Hwy. 31, South Canoe Road and Arthur Hall Road in hopes of catching up to Roberson. K-9 units from the Alabama Department of Corrections and Century Correctional Institute were also called to the area to help track the suspect.
After more than an hour, the search was called off.
Although the manhunt was called off, Smith said the Sheriff’s Office still wants to arrest Roberson.
Smith said the outstanding warrants on Roberson include disorderly conduct and harassment of a drug task force officer. He said other charges would more than likely be filed.
The suspect who was captured was questioned and released at the scene.
Officers with the Poarch Police Department also aided in the search.
If you know where Roberson is contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at 251-809-0741.