Vidalia man caught after fleeing officer

Published 12:04 am Wednesday, July 2, 2014

VIDALIA — A Vidalia man learned the hard way that two feet are no match for a friend armed with an 8-cylinder patrol car.

A Vidalia police officer and a Louisiana State Police trooper teamed up early Tuesday to nab a Vidalia man who attempted to flee an officer on foot.

Henry Hinkston, 34, 220 Fudikar St., Ferriday, was arrested and charged with four charges of possessing drugs with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice and resisting an officer.

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Vidalia Police Department Lt. Roger “Chip” McDonald said he was patrolling U.S. 84 at approximate 11:30 p.m. Monday when he noticed a vehicle traveling westbound began veering onto the shoulder of the road.

McDonald pulled the vehicle over, suspecting the driver was intoxicated and began questioning Hinkston.

“Some red flags started going up where he wasn’t making eye contact with me or making complete sentences, so I asked him to step out of the car,” McDonald said. “I did a pat down on him for safety to make sure he didn’t have any weapons on him, and he kept trying to turn away from me to avoid the pat down.

“Before I knew it, he took off running.”

McDonald said he began chasing Hinkston on foot running toward Walmart while attempting to get rid of money from his pockets.

McDonald said a Louisiana State Police trooper had seen him questioning Hinkston moments before and had turned around to assist him right as Hinkston took off.

McDonald said the LSP trooper was able to catch up to Hinkston in his patrol unit and arrest him without incident.

The trooper, McDonald said, noticed Hinkston threw a vile into the grass during the chase and the law enforcement officials found it and discovered small quantities of what they believed to be methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription pills inside.

During a search of Hinkston’s vehicle after the arrest, McDonald said investigators found more than 100 grams of marijuana.