Tip leads to arrest of man wanted in three counties

Published 12:03 am Saturday, December 23, 2017

NATCHEZ — A Natchez man wanted in three counties on armed robbery, burglary and grand larceny charges was arrested Friday.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said he received a tip that Christopher Benard Gales was hiding out near Centreville in Wilkinson County.

Gales was wanted in Adams County on a charge of grand larceny, in Jefferson County on a charge of burglary of a community building and in Franklin County on an armed robbery charge.

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“He has been extremely hard to catch in three counties,” Patten said. “We’ve chased him around Natchez, and they’ve chased him around three counties.”

Patten said he contacted deputies with the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office and asked them to confirm that Gales was there.

After receiving confirmation, a special reaction team of deputies from ASCO went to Centreville to aid Wilkinson County deputies in apprehending Gales.

Patten said officers blocked the driveway to the residence where Gale was found, but that Gale, who had children in his vehicle, drove through a ditch to avoid officers.

Officers stopped the man further down the road, where he was arrested at 5:15 p.m. without any violence.

“Three different agencies worked together to apprehend this guy,” Patten said. “He was arrested with no further incident to himself, his kids or our officers.”

Franklin County Sheriff James Newman said Gales allegedly robbed a truck stop with a deadly weapon in early December and that his deputies had been looking for him ever since.

“I’m glad to have him in custody,” Newman said. “Patten did a good job on this.”

A warrant for Gales’ arrest for a charge of burglary of a community building was issued on Dec. 1, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jerry Brown said Gales was found in possession of more than $1,000 worth of stolen property approximately one month ago.

Brown said the property was primarily lawn equipment.