Published: April 09, 2009 08:49 am      

Suspects in pharmacy robbery caught

Fugitives are ‘persons of interest’ in pharmacy case; 3rd suspect sought

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

Two of the three Whitley County men wanted for a string of burglaries spanning a three month period turned themselves in Tuesday night.

Larry Brandon Shelton, 26 and Jason W. Taylor, 27, surrendered to Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge Tuesday night after a brief foot-pursuit involving Williamsburg Police and Whitley County Constable Jimmy Thorton earlier in the day.

Timothy Edward Taylor, 30, is still at large and wanted on parole violations and suspicion of burglary.

Williamsburg Police Department Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said at around 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, Constable Thorton spotted a vehicle on KY 904 in the Gatliff area matching the description of a vehicle the men were known to use.

Jackson said Thorton alerted Williamsburg Police while Thorton watched the vehicle drive behind a residence. As Detective Bobby Freeman approached the scene, Jackson said he saw the three wanted men running from the residence.

“A brief foot pursuit ensued and they were able to get away at that time, going up into the woods and mountains,” Jackson said.

Thorton and. Freeman called for back up, and the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky State Police joined in the search for the men.

At around 9 p.m., the uncle of one of the men called Hodge and said two of the men were ready to turn themselves in to authorites.

“Their uncle called, said they were afraid and they didn’t want to get hurt or nothing,” Hodge said. “They just wanted to get turned in, so the uncle called me and I told them I’d pick them up.”

Hodge said he met Jason Taylor and Shelton on Reynolds Hollow Road where they were arrested without incident.

“I’ve known the boys my whole life, I coached them in Little League,” Hodge said. “So they knew I wasn’t a threat, and they gave up without incident.”

Hodge said the two men arrested would not say where Timothy Taylor might be, but Hodge suspects he is no longer in the area where the men first ran into police.

“My understanding is they split up as soon as the city police started after them,” Hodge said. “He’s not in that country, I’m satisfied.”

Hodge added that all three men had cell phones, and it’s likely Timothy Taylor called for a ride out of the area.

The three men are wanted on various parole violations and warrants from counties around Kentucky, Jackson said. The men are believed to be involved in residential burglaries all over Whitley County spanning a three month time period, Jackson said.

“These three gentlemen are responsible for numerous, numerous stolen items throughout the Whitley County area,” Jackson said. “We believe that this includes numerous firearms.”

Williamsburg Police are also calling the men “persons of interest” in the January burglary of the Drive-In Pharmacy in Williamsburg.

Jackson said police also have reason to believe that one of the men sold a .357 handgun to Jamie Davis, a convicted felon, who was arrested in March for allegedly possessing the gun and other burglar tools in downtown Williamsburg.

Because of his current situation, Jackson said Timothy Taylor, the lone fugitive, should be considered dangerous.

“He definitely could take some risks he might not typically take to avoid going to jail,” Jackson said. “Timothy told the subjects arrested he would not be going to jail.”

Jackson said Tuesday’s arrests were possible “because of the good working relationship between law enforcement agencies in this county.”

“The thing about this is we got two out of the three, but we won’t be content until all three of them are behind bars where they need to be,” Jackson said.

Anyone with information regarding Timothy Taylor’s whereabouts should contact the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department at (606) 549-6006 or the Williamsburg Police Department at (606) 549-6038.