One of three people being questioned by a Batavia police officer at the Days Inn of Oak Street near the Thruway decided to run, leading to a multi-agency manhunt that lasted less than 30 minutes shortly before 1 p.m.
Officer Dan Coffey had been dispatched to the Days Inn to ask three guests who had overstayed their welcome to leave. While doing a wants and warrants check on the three people, one of them took off. Coffey observed the suspect run to a gray Dodge Durango parked behind the hotel and grab something from the vehicle, leading officers to worry that the suspect had grabbed a weapon.
The man, whose identity has not been released yet, then headed toward the Thruway toll booths. At some point, he fell into or ran through a body of water. He then ran across the Thruway near the Route 98 overpass and was last seen in a farm field just north of the Thruway.
By that time, back-up had arrived from the Batavia PD, Sheriff's Office and State Police. The field was surrounded by officers and the State Police helicopter was called in.
Within minutes of the helicopter arriving, the suspect, who had been lying in the long grass of the field, stood up and tried to run again. He was immediately apprehended by police.
The other two individuals were detained at the hotel, where members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force responded and began conducting a further investigation.
Following the arrest, a search of the field was being conducted by State Troopers, which prompted some discussion of bringing in a weapon sniffing dog, to see what, if anything, the suspect left behind.
Chief Randy Baker said the suspect apparently is wanted in Georgia. The nature of the warrant is not available at this time.
(Initial Report)
