NATCHEZ — A Natchez man who was arrested late Saturday night after leading Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a chase and resisting arrest was released on a recognizance bond soon after he was arrested.

Kelvin Johnson, 20, no address provided, was charged with possession of marijuana in a church zone and resisting arrest.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said he is disappointed that Johnson was freed on a $1,000 recognizance bond after leading his deputies on a foot chase and then fighting them to the point of having to be subued with a stun gun.

Adams County Justice Court Judge Patricia Dunmore freed Johnson on the recogizance bond in court Monday, Patten said.

“It is disheartening to our officers when they work as hard as they do,” Patten said. “We need a better solution than this.”

Dunmore said she has to take into consideration many things that go into determining a bond and that the constitution requires whatever bond she sets be reasonable as it it applies to each individual crime.

Dunmore also said that the purpose of the bond is not hold people in custody.

“The purpose of the bond is not to keep people in jail. It is to make sure they return to court,” Dunmore said.

ACSO deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle driven by Johnson on Mallory Street in Natchez late Saturday night.

After Johnson stepped out of his vehicle, deputies conducted a pat down of him which led to the discovery of cash and a digital scale. While conducting the pat down, deputies said Johnson fled on foot.

During the pursuit, an officer unsuccessfully deployed his stun gun to subdue the suspect on the corner of Mallory and Abbot streets.

The pursuit continued on Abbot Street where the deputy deployed the stun gun another time, successfully hitting the suspect at the corner of Old D’Evereux and Abbot streets. 

Johnson reportedly continued to fight deputies as they tried to place handcuffs on the suspect. Not until the deputy issued another jolt of electricty did Johnson reportedly comply with officers.